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

A person has been arrested after cellphone video captured what appeared 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 group who says they "satisfaction ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the beautiful waters we get to call residence," was shot simply after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Touchdown 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 this planet," 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 stated 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 group, we share the duty to guard our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a press release. "I'm extremely happy with our Illegal 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 may suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, 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 the environment," he stated.

Cloud Nine, an event planning firm, additionally deflected responsibility in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We adorned the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We are by no means answerable for removing balloon decorations," the statement learn partly.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, that is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I used to be right here after they were setting them up and then initially I did not really suppose much of it but I suppose because the day was carried out and they started popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

One witness stated the balloons may have been part of a marriage proposal. Bruna stated he confronted the individuals.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys serious, is that this one thing you're going to do proper now?' [They] type 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."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee said balloons will be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to inside harm, starvation, and death.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.