A 67‑year‑old former champion slalom canoeist, Davey Hearn, was arrested on Friday by U.S. Park Police and National Guard at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Police said Hearn was detained after he removed his cycling glove to touch a long rubber strip bundled to the pool’s bottom that had begun to delaminate.
Hearn contradicts police claims of vandalism, telling the BBC that he "didn't destroy, rip, tear, peel or remove any part" of the paint and that the pool’s condition did not change while he was there. He said he was taken into custody for about five hours, handcuffed, and would not be allowed a phone call.
At the heart of the story is the pool’s recent $13 million refurbishment, a no‑bid contract awarded by the Trump administration. Despite the makeover, the pool has suffered from persistent algae growth, paint peeling and other maintenance issues, with President Donald Trump posting photos and claims of vandalism on Truth‑Social.
Hearn’s account adds new tension to the theory that he was used as a public example of law enforcement’s zeal. He describes the incident as a brief, harmless touch of the strip and calls the arrest an "arbitrary, capricious prosecution." The police are now facing a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property over the incident.
In court documents, the pool’s management details the work of professionals removing green algae and recirculating water, and outlines plans to keep the pool clean for the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States.
While the Washington Post and BBC report that Hearn took photos of paint peeling before the arrest, the broader debate over the pool’s upkeep continues, with President Trump’s social media posts demanding urgent repairs and claims of chemical damage that he says will necessitate draining the pool for work.
