A cyclist was arrested on June 19, 2026 by U.S. Park Police near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for allegedly tampering with its lining. The man, former Olympic cyclist David Hearn, was captured on video being taken into custody by authorities. The footage has since gone viral. Hearn himself is now speaking out about the incident in an interview with leftist news outlet The Washington Post.
The reflecting pool has become a hot button issue due to Democrats attempting to create a narrative that the renovations done on the landmark by the Trump administration are a waste of taxpayer dollars. It’s worth noting that many mainstream media outlets have seemingly ignored or downplayed the billions of dollars in fraud that has been exposed in states across the country.
Multiple acts of vandalism perpetrated by radical left-wing activists have been reported since the renovations were completed. Images and video footage have revealed that due to the increase in vandalism, National Guard members have been stationed at different areas around the pool for the last several days.
According to a report from Newsweek, Hearn spoke with The Washington Post and said that he had stopped at the Lincoln Memorial to take a look at the reflecting pool after he finished a cycling loop at Hains Point, which is a 52-mile bike ride. Hearn then said that he reached down into the pool to feel a piece of its liner that had become detached from the bottom.
A few moments later, he was arrested by park police. Hearn has been charged with destruction of government property and is now scheduled to make an appearance in court on July 9, 2026. “I didn’t vandalize anything,” the 67-year-old former Olympian told The Post. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”
Newsweek said Hearn’s arrest marks a “visible escalation” in security presence around the pool after President Donald Trump alleged that the pool has been targeted by leftist vandals. It goes on to claim that the increase in security is negatively impacting visitors, cleanup crews, and officials at the National Mall.
President Trump wrote a post on Truth Social addressing the accusations of vandalism, saying, “The United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Poll [sic]. Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail!”
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He then said that “work will begin immediately on its repair.” Emma Nicholson, White House associate producer for CBS News revealed on social media platform X that “14 police reports have been filed” concerning alleged acts of vandalism taking place at the reflecting pool. “As of last night 5 people had been arrested for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool and another 5 were issued federal citations,” Nicholson wrote.
Conservative journalist Emily Miller posted the video of Hearn’s arrest and wrote on Facebook that he had “grabbed the hose that female National Park Service workers were using to clear the algae.” Miller refused to speak with the left-leaning news outlet, but did confirm the video. “I reached in there, and I was able to grab the end of that flapping piece, the already peeling piece,” Hearn said to the newspaper. “It was still attached to the bottom. I didn’t remove anything.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video