Prosecutors move to dismiss felony vandalism case against Olympian David Hearn over reflecting pools

Federal prosecutors moved Friday to disregard a felony vandalism lawsuit against erstwhile U.S. Olympian David Hearn, aft helium was accused of vandalizing the reflecting pools successful Washington, D.C., arsenic seen successful a tribunal filing obtained by Fox News Digital.

Hearn was indicted July 2 connected 1 number of felony demolition of property. U.S. Park Police alleged Hearn grabbed and tugged astatine a escaped conception of the pool’s coating connected June 19, continuing aft a National Park Service worker told him to stop. Officials initially claimed helium caused much than $1,000 successful damage.

However, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s bureau said the Department of the Interior initially provided prosecutors with "barebones" reports and failed to disclose records documenting extended problems with the coating’s installation.

FORMER US OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN INDICTED IN ALLEGED REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM

David Hearn of the United States competes successful the men's C1 whitewater canoeing last of the 2000 Summer Olympics astatine the Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Penrith, Australia, connected Sept. 18, 2000. (David Madison/Getty Images)

"Had DOI been forthcoming with the accusation intelligibly successful its possession, the authorities would not person sought a expansive assemblage indictment," prosecutors wrote.

"It was not until aft the instrumentality of the indictment, that the DOI provided further documents to the USAO-DC indicating that harm to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool successful June 2026 was the effect of flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings (‘AIC’), and the unreserved to implicit the task anterior to events associated with the America 250 solemnisation successful the weeks surrounding Independence Day 2026."

WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS 'TARGETED SABOTAGE' OF REFLECTING POOL AS REPAIRS PUSHED PAST JULY 4 CELEBRATION

SYDNEY - SEPTEMBER 18: David Hearn of the USA competes successful the Men's C1 whitewater canoeing last of the 2000 Summer Olympics connected September 18, 2000 astatine Penrith Whitewater Stadium successful Penrith, Australia. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

The DOJ said the caller grounds made it hard to beryllium beyond a tenable uncertainty that Hearn caused the damage. Prosecutors asked the tribunal to disregard the indictment without prejudice, which would permission unfastened the anticipation of bringing the complaint again.

Hearn has antecedently beaten national charges.

Hearn was arrested by the U.S. Park Police astir 30 years agone and ended up beating the charges, according to a 1996 Washington Post article.

That year, the Potomac River turned violent, arsenic intense, dense rains pushed the h2o to a terrifying, near-record flood level of 60,000 cubic feet per second.

Authorities instantly issued an exigency stream closure. But Hearn took his whitewater canoe consecutive into the raging rapids, wherever officers aboriginal swooped successful and arrested him.

He was charged with failing to obey a lawful order. But Hearn fought the lawsuit successful tribunal and won connected a stunning technicality. But a national justice dismissed the charges, ruling the Potomac River is controlled by the authorities of Maryland, meaning the national Park Police had zero jurisdiction implicit the water.

Hearn's apprehension became a viral sensation aft it was captured by writer Emily Miller. Miller filmed a two-minute video of Hearn being detained, which rapidly went viral connected X.

Miller accused Hearn of grabbing a hose that pistillate National Park Service workers were utilizing to wide the algae. Hearn denied the accusation, though helium admitted his motorcycle tyre mightiness person bumped it.

Hearn’s attorneys are demanding an apology connected behalf of the Olympian.

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David Hearn of the USA competes successful the Men's C1 whitewater canoeing last of the 2000 Summer Olympics connected September 18, 2000 astatine Penrith Whitewater Stadium successful Penrith, Australia. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)

"The Trump administration’s lawsuit against Davey Hearn should ne'er person been brought. Its dismissal contiguous does not erase the maltreatment of authorities powerfulness successful arresting and charging a patriotic American who did thing wrong. The government’s attack was ready, fire, aim. The medication owes Mr. Hearn an apology," said Hearn’s attorneys Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann and Steve Levin successful a statement, per The New York Post.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the DOI for comment.