Former Olympian charged over alleged 'vandalism' of US Reflecting Pool

Former US Olympian David 'Davey' Hearn has been indicted in a Washington DC court over what US President Donald Trump has described as the vandalism of the Reflecting Pool.

Mr Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, faces a felony charge of the destruction of property worth $US$1,000 ($1,445) or more, court documents show.

The indictment accuses Mr Hearn of "maliciously" breaking or destroying lining material on the bottom of the Reflecting Pool on June 19.

District of Columbia US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Mr Hearn ripped up recently installed sealant on the pool in "a deliberate act".

She accused him of "forcefully and violently" pulling up the bottom liner "with both hands" and acting belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop.

"This is a case with tremendous evidence," she said, adding that authorities have made about six other misdemeanour arrests.

The Olympian's lawyers denied the allegations after his arrest, accusing Mr Trump's administration of treating ordinary conduct as criminal.

The incident happened days after crews finished a Trump-ordered project to lay down new liner that Mr Trump called "American flag blue" in time for celebrations honouring the 250th anniversary of US independence on July 4.

Mr Hearn previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool to examine the newly peeled coating.

He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.

Mr Hearn, 67, from Bethesda, Maryland, owned a company that made composite materials used to build watercraft.

He said he stopped by the pool during a 102-kilometre bike ride.

He said he was detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released.

Mr Trump has said federal authorities made "multiple arrests" of people he said were vandalising the Reflecting Pool as he struggled to explain why the $US14-million-plus ($20.2m) rehabilitation project seemingly backfired.

Last month, Mr Hearn's lawyer Joshua Kolb told the ABC the incident was a representation of the Trump administration "picking on average Americans".

"[Mr Hearn's] completely innocent," he said.

"But this is what this DOJ [Department of Justice], what the Trump administration has done. This has been their approach to dealing with the problems that they create of their own making."

The pool has been plagued by algal blooms, which initially turned its water green and peeled a paint lining along the installation's floor.

Mr Trump has said vandals poured chemicals and acid into the water and used knives and razor blades to cut the lining.

He previously said that six people were arrested for damage to the pool.

AP