ho owned a company that made composite used to build watercraft. He said he stopped by the pool during his 64-mile bike ride Friday to see what was going on.

Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool because he wanted to examine the peeling new 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.

But, Hearn said, he was then detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released Friday night.

 I'm a curious citizen,  Hearn said in a telephone interview.  I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery. 

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 pulled ribbons of paint from the side of the pool, it would not explain the clouds of algae in green water and swaths of loose blue paint detached from the bottom.

Trump insisted something nefarious has been going on at the scene.  No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work,  he posted Friday evening.

That was an apparent reference to the discovery of large numbers etched in discolored grass on the National Mall the week before:  86 47.  Authorities said the numbers could have been meant as a threat to Trump, the 47th president. The number 86 can be slang for  getting rid of.  They are investigating.

Trump's claims came after days of negative attention to the state of the pool, which has drawn television cameras and curious onlookers.