Three more people charged with damaging Reflecting Pool after Trump’s multimillion-dollar restoration
Three Individuals Face Charges Following Reflecting Pool Incident
Three more people charged with damaging – Legal proceedings have been initiated against three additional individuals following an incident at the historic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. According to official court documents, Cameron Thiers, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Justin Carreno were apprehended by law enforcement officers during a Saturday afternoon in June. The officers reported observing the trio actively removing sections of blue paint from the pool’s surface.
The Arrest and Evidence Collection
Body-worn cameras captured all three incidents as they unfolded, providing crucial visual documentation for the case. One officer specifically noted in court filings that they witnessed Carreno reaching into the water and extracting a fragment of the blue material. Meanwhile, the officer responsible for detaining Dennison-Gibby discovered an extra piece of the pool’s liner concealed within her purse.
The law enforcement response involved multiple agencies working in coordination. Officers from Texas, Oklahoma, Montana, and California were among those assigned to the Reflecting Pool alongside US Park Police personnel. This collaborative effort resulted in the detention of two men and one woman during the afternoon incident.
Thiers “admitted to removing a piece of blue sealant from the Reflecting Pool and still had it in his hand when I made contact with him,” one officer stated in court documents.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties
The three defendants appeared in court on Wednesday for their arraignment. All three entered pleas of not guilty to misdemeanor charges of property destruction, with the alleged damage valued at less than $1,000. The presiding judge issued an order requiring the defendants to maintain distance from the Reflecting Pool area.
Legal representatives for Thiers and Dennison-Gibby chose not to provide public comment regarding the charges. CNN has attempted to contact Carreno’s attorney for additional perspective on the case. Should the defendants be found guilty of the charges against them, they face potential consequences including fines reaching $1,000 and imprisonment for up to 180 days.
Broader Context of Pool Damage Claims
The New York Times initially reported on the charging of these three individuals. This incident occurs within a larger narrative involving President Donald Trump’s claims about vandalism to the Reflecting Pool. Trump has frequently asserted that vandals caused significant harm to the pool’s lining following his administration’s expenditure of more than $14 million on renovation work. However, he has not presented concrete evidence to substantiate these assertions.
Importantly, the officers who filed charges against Carreno, Thiers, and Dennison-Gibby did not accuse them of gashing the pool’s lining. This distinction separates their case from other recent incidents involving the landmark.
Separate Charges and Ongoing Repairs
In a related development, former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was indicted by a Washington, DC grand jury last week. Hearn faces different charges than the three recently apprehended individuals. While Carreno, Thiers, and Dennison-Gibby were charged with property destruction valued under $1,000, Hearn was charged with destruction of property exceeding $1,000 in value. This higher valuation carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison if convicted.
Hearn entered a not guilty plea in DC Superior Court on Thursday regarding the allegations of pool damage. His case proceeds separately from the three individuals arrested in June.
Meanwhile, maintenance crews have begun draining the Reflecting Pool over the weekend to facilitate necessary repairs. According to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, this marks the second time in three months that the iconic landmark has been drained for restoration work. The decision follows weeks of complications including algae blooms, green-tinted water, a chipping pool bottom, and the administration’s allegations of vandalism. These ongoing issues have transformed the Reflecting Pool’s condition into a matter of national interest and public attention.
This report has been updated with additional information regarding the legal proceedings and maintenance efforts.
