Hearn’s Lawyers Seek Watchdog Probe of Pool Case

Attorneys for former Olympic canoeist David Hearn have asked the inspectors general of the Justice and Interior departments to investigate his arrest and prosecution over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a case a judge dismissed with prejudice. The request seeks a coordinated review of how the investigation and charging decisions were handled, as well as the agencies’ treatment of evidence. In a letter sent Tuesday, Hearn’s lawyers alleged that prosecutors had evidence of installation defects before seeking a felony indictment and ignored information that could have shown he was not responsible. They asked the watchdogs to examine the agencies’ actions and determine when relevant evidence was received and reviewed. The allegations are the lawyers’ claims; the supplied accounts do not establish that either inspector general has opened an investigation. The case began after Hearn, 67, encountered loose pool coating during a bicycle ride on June 19. He has said he briefly touched a piece of the liner and let go when told to do so by a park worker. He was arrested that day and later indicted on a felony property-destruction charge. He pleaded not guilty.