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 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 defending and spreading consciousness on the attractive waters we get to call residence," was shot just 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 were 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 individuals on a ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola reports

Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday night 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 environment.

“As a community, we share the responsibility to guard the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a statement. "I am extraordinarily happy with our Unlawful Dumping Unit, for their thorough investigation and swift conclusion to this case."

David Torres-Bocanegra

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

"First off, I wish to put my coronary heart out and say how necessary it's to guard our surroundings," he mentioned.

Cloud 9, an occasion planning company, additionally deflected duty in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We adorned the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We're never in control of eradicating balloon decorations," the assertion learn in part.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I was right here once they have been setting them up and then initially I didn't really think a lot of it however I assume because the day was finished they usually began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I used to be shocked."

One witness stated the balloons could have been a part of a wedding proposal. Bruna mentioned he confronted the individuals.

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

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee said balloons could be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inside harm, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.