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 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 "pleasure ourselves on defending and spreading consciousness on the beautiful waters we get to call 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 handed them and expressed our disagreement, we were ignored and 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 boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday night 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 community, we share the duty to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in an announcement. "I am extraordinarily 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 tales, saying he was not responsible for the balloon popping.

"First off, I want to put my coronary heart out and say how necessary it is to protect our surroundings," he mentioned.

Cloud Nine, an event planning company, additionally deflected accountability in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We are never answerable for removing balloon decorations," the assertion read partially.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I used to be here once they were setting them up and then initially I didn't actually assume much of it however I assume because the day was executed they usually began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I used to be shocked."

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

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys critical, is this one thing you're going to do proper now?' [They] kind of just 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 these balloons into the water."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission mentioned balloons will be mistaken for food by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal harm, hunger, and loss of life.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.