Details of the Arrest
David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympic canoeist who competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Games, was taken into custody by U.S. Park Police in Washington, D.C., this past Friday. According to reports, the 67-year-old athlete was charged with a misdemeanor related to the destruction of government property at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The Reflecting Pool Maintenance Issues
The site has recently been the focus of maintenance efforts aimed at preparing the landmark for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. Authorities had previously invested roughly $14 million in renovations, which included applying a dark blue paint to the basin's floor to evoke the colors of the American flag.
However, the project faced significant complications:
- The dark paint caused the water to absorb excess solar heat.
- Higher temperatures fostered rapid algae growth, resulting in a murky green appearance.
- Treatment attempts using chlorine and hydrogen peroxide have proven ineffective.
- The bottom coating has begun to peel, with fragments floating to the surface.
Hearn's Version of Events
Hearn, who was on a bicycle ride at the time, denies any claims of vandalism. He stated that he merely touched a piece of the basin's lining that had already detached.
«I didn't vandalize anything. I didn't destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs,» Hearn remarked regarding the incident. He maintained that he simply reached into the water to feel a loose fragment of paint that was already flapping in the basin.
Legal Proceedings
While some reports suggested an altercation involving a cleaning hose, Hearn has firmly denied these claims, asserting that he did not attempt to interfere with any equipment. Following his arrest, the former Olympian was detained for approximately five hours before being released. He is expected to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9 to address the charges.