David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympic canoe racer from Bethesda, Maryland, has been indicted on a felony count of property destruction for allegedly vandalising the newly renovated Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. The indictment, announced Thursday by District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, centres on an incident on June 19 in which prosecutors allege Hearn ripped up recently installed sealant lining the bottom of the pool, causing more than $1,000 in damage.

The Reflecting Pool, built in the 1920s and stretching 619 metres between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, underwent a $14 million renovation ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations. Despite the costly refurbishment, the pool has continued to suffer from algae growth and large sections of new sealant visibly peeling from its floor. At a press conference, Pirro described Hearn's alleged actions as deliberate, saying he