Former US Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn has been indicted on a felony destruction of property charge following his arrest in connection with alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.
The indictment was announced by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro and filed in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday (July 2). The charge stems from an incident that occurred on June 19 at the recently renovated Reflecting Pool.
According to authorities, Hearn is among several individuals who have been arrested or cited in relation to damage at the site. The Reflecting Pool recently underwent a rehabilitation project valued at more than $14 million.
Hearn has denied intentionally damaging the property. He stated that he stopped during a bicycle ride after noticing a loose section of the pool’s peeling blue coating. According to Hearn, he touched the material only “to satisfy my curiosity as a citizen” and did not deliberately cause any damage.
The Reflecting Pool renovation has drawn public attention since its completion. President Donald Trump previously attributed the damage to acts of vandalism and has referred to the pool’s distinctive coating as “American flag blue.”
The case will now proceed through the D.C. Superior Court, where prosecutors will seek to prove the felony destruction of property charge. Hearn remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
