Olympic canoeist arrested amid Lincoln pool renovation woes

A former Olympic athlete was arrested at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool last Friday amid ongoing issues with the landmark's recent multi-million dollar renovation, a project that has now drawn further scrutiny after the discovery of a dead duckling in its waters.

David Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time U.S. Olympic canoeist, was taken into custody by U.S. Park Police on June 19 and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property. Hearn, who was finishing a bike ride, said he stopped at the memorial and noticed a piece of the pool's blue liner peeling from the bottom. He admitted to touching the loose flap but denied causing any damage. "I didn't vandalize anything," Hearn said. "I didn't destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs." He was detained for nearly five hours before being released and is scheduled to appear in court on July 9.

The arrest occurred as the reflecting pool, a central feature on the National Mall, faces significant problems following a renovation that was championed by President Donald Trump and completed earlier this month. The project, intended to repair leaks and coat the pool...