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

A person 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 "pride ourselves on defending and spreading consciousness on the gorgeous waters we get to name residence," was shot simply after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Touchdown 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 have been ignored and 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 ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola reports

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 environment.

“As a community, we share the accountability to guard our environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in an announcement. "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 propose to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not chargeable for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, also deflected duty in a statement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We are by no means in charge of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement learn partially.

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

"I was pretty upset about it, this is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I used to be here after they had been setting them up after which initially I did not actually suppose much of it but I assume because the day was finished and so they began popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

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

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

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee stated balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal injury, starvation, and death.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.