Arrest Made in Balloon Littering Investigation at Coconut Grove Marina – NBC 6 South Florida

A person has been arrested after cellphone video captured what gave the impression to be a number of boaters popping balloons and letting the trash fall into the water close to a Coconut Grove marina on Tuesday.

The video posted by MMG Outboard Division, a gaggle who says they "delight ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to call residence," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing Marina.

Two folks onboard the boat are seen popping balloons and letting them fall into the water.

"As we passed them and expressed our disagreement, we had been ignored and so they continued popping away with no care in the world," the group posted of their message.

Miami-Dade police have made an arrest after cellphone video surfaced of people on a ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday night time that they arrested one man and handed out nine civil citations.

The man was recognized as 29-year-old David Torres-Bocanegra. He was charged with reckless disregard for the environment.

“As a group, we share the duty to guard the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in an announcement. "I'm extraordinarily pleased with our Unlawful Dumping Unit, for his or her thorough investigation and swift conclusion to this case."

David Torres-Bocanegra

Tom Rivas, who rented the boat so he might suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not answerable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I want to put my heart out and say how vital it's to guard the environment," he mentioned.

Cloud 9, an event planning firm, also deflected duty in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We adorned the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we always do. We are never in control of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement learn in part.

Esteban Bruna, a yacht dealer, shot the cellphone video.

"I used to be fairly upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I was right here once they had been setting them up after which initially I did not really assume much of it however I assume as the day was carried out they usually started popping away and letting them all go into the water I used to be shocked."

One witness mentioned the balloons may have been part of a wedding proposal. Bruna said he confronted the people.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys severe, is that this one thing you are going to do right now?' [They] type of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "It was horrifying to see what they have been doing to the marine life and the waterways by just dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee mentioned balloons will be mistaken for food by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to inside injury, starvation, and dying.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.