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 "pleasure ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to name dwelling," was shot simply after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Touchdown Marina.

Two individuals 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 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 people on a boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

Miami-Dade Police mentioned 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 atmosphere.

“As a neighborhood, we share the accountability to guard our environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in a statement. "I am extremely pleased with our Unlawful 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 might propose to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not chargeable for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, additionally deflected duty in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we always do. We're never in charge of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement learn partly.

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

"I was fairly upset about it, that is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I was here once they had been setting them up after which initially I did not really assume much of it however I guess because the day was done and so they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I used to be shocked."

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys critical, is this one thing you are going to do right now?' [They] form of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "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 Fee said balloons will be mistaken for food 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.