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

A person has been arrested after cellphone video captured what gave the impression to be a number of boaters popping balloons and letting the trash fall into the water near a Coconut Grove marina on Tuesday.

The video posted by MMG Outboard Division, a gaggle who says they "pleasure ourselves on defending and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to call dwelling," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing 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 have been ignored they usually 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 boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola reviews

Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday evening 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 surroundings.

“As a neighborhood, we share the duty to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in an announcement. "I'm extraordinarily pleased with our Illegal 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 liable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I wish to put my heart out and say how essential it's to guard the environment," he mentioned.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, additionally deflected responsibility in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We adorned the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We're by no means in command of eradicating balloon decorations," the assertion read partly.

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

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

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys serious, is that this one thing you are going to do right now?' [They] form of just 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 stated balloons may be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inside damage, hunger, and loss of life.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.