What Happened to David "Davey" Hearn?

David "Davey" Hearn, a highly decorated U.S. Olympic canoeist with a career spanning from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, found himself at the center of a national controversy in June 2026. On June 19, 2026, Hearn, then 67, was arrested by U.S. Park Police at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C.. He was accused of damaging government property after allegedly reaching into the recently renovated pool and pulling at a section of its blue lining that was reportedly peeling off.

The incident occurred amidst ongoing issues with the Reflecting Pool's $14-16 million renovation project, which had been championed by President Donald Trump. The renovation, intended to beautify the capital for America's 250th birthday celebrations, had been plagued by problems including algae growth and the new blue liner peeling off. Hearn, who also owned a company manufacturing composite materials for watercraft, stated he was on a 64-mile bike ride when he stopped at the pool. He claims he was merely a "curious, concerned citizen" who reached down to touch a strip of peeling blue paint mixed with algae, denying any intent to vandalize. He asserts he immediately let go when instructed by a park worker.

Despite his denial, Hearn was initially charged with a misdemeanor. However, on July 2, 2026, a D.C. grand jury indicted him on a felony count of destruction of property, alleging he "maliciously did injure, break and destroy" the lining material, causing over $1,000 in damage. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro claimed that National Park Service employees witnessed Hearn "forcefully and violently pulling up and removing" the liner and that he ignored instructions to stop. If convicted, Hearn faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Hearn's legal team, including attorneys Mary Dohrmann and Norm Eisen, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the charges "outrageous" and a "misuse of government power". They argue that the prosecution is a politically motivated attempt to "shift blame for their own failures" regarding the botched renovation of the Reflecting Pool. On July 9, 2026, Hearn pleaded not guilty to the felony charge and was released on his own recognizance. His attorneys have also filed a request to dismiss the case, contending that the government failed to properly preserve important physical evidence by draining, disturbing, and altering the Reflecting Pool after the incident. As of July 28, 2026, Hearn is awaiting a status hearing on August 5, 2026, and a trial scheduled for September 28, 2026. This is not Hearn's first encounter with law enforcement concerning a body of water; in 1996, he was arrested for canoeing in the Potomac River against police orders, though those charges were later dismissed due to jurisdictional issues.