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David Hearn, a 67-year-old former U.S. Olympic canoeist (competing in slalom canoe events in 1992, 1996, and 2000, with world championship medals), was arrested on June 20, 2026, by U.S. Park Police near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. He was charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property after allegedly touching or interacting with a detached piece of the pool’s newly installed liner (part of a $14 million renovation). Hearn denies vandalizing it—he told reporters he was on a bike ride, noticed the floating liner (amid ongoing issues with peeling material and algae post-renovation), reached in to touch it out of curiosity, and was then confronted and arrested. He was released and has a court date in D.C. Superior Court on July 9. This incident occurred in the context of President Trump highlighting vandalism concerns with the renovated pool (painted in an “American flag blue” liner), with reports of multiple arrests. Videos from the scene show Hearn being questioned by National Guard and Park Police before being handcuffed. Major outlets like The Washington Post, New York Post, Fox News, ESPN, and others have reported on it consistently, with Hearn’s background as an Olympian confirmed via official profiles. He maintains he didn’t damage anything. The story appears legitimate and not fabricated.