President Donald Trump has announced that federal authorities have made multiple arrests of individuals he claims were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. The pool, which underwent a $14-million-plus rehabilitation project, has been experiencing issues with its new blue lining peeling and algae growth.

Trump stated that his predecessors had allowed the pool to become algae-stained and that he had intended to line it with ‘American flag blue’ to better reflect the Washington Monument. However, after the new pool was unveiled, its blue tinge quickly turned green. Workers treated the pool with chemicals to kill the algae, but the painted blue lining on the bottom began to peel.

Arrests and Investigations

One man, David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was arrested and detained for five hours before being released. Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, claimed he had stopped by the pool during a bike ride to examine the peeling coating and briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool.

Agencies responsible for law enforcement and upkeep on the National Mall, including the U.S. Park Police, National Park Service, and Interior Department, did not respond to requests for comment. Trump posted on social media that Park Police had arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, but offered no details to substantiate his claim.

The Washington Post first reported Hearn’s arrest, and he said he has a date to appear in court next month and is looking for legal help. Even if someone had pulled ribbons of paint from the side of the pool, it would not explain the clouds of algae in the green water and swaths of loose blue paint detached from the bottom.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.