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

A man has been arrested after cellphone video captured what seemed to be several 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 bunch who says they "satisfaction ourselves on defending and spreading consciousness on the attractive waters we get to name dwelling," was shot simply after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing Marina.

Two people 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 on the earth," the group posted of their message.

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

Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday night time that they arrested one man and handed out 9 civil citations.

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

“As a neighborhood, we share the responsibility to protect our environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in a press release. "I'm extraordinarily proud of our Illegal Dumping Unit, for their thorough investigation and swift conclusion to this case."

David Torres-Bocanegra

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

"First off, I need to put my heart out and say how necessary it is to protect our environment," he stated.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, also deflected responsibility in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We decorated the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We're by no means answerable for removing balloon decorations," the assertion learn partially.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I used to be here after they had been setting them up and then initially I didn't really suppose much of it however I suppose as the day was achieved and they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I used to be shocked."

One witness stated the balloons might have been a part of a marriage proposal. Bruna mentioned he confronted the people.

"I discussed to them,' are you guys severe, is that this something you are going to do proper now?' [They] kind of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna said. "It was horrifying to see what they were doing to the marine life and the waterways by simply dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated balloons will be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner injury, hunger, and death.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.