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 close to a Coconut Grove marina on Tuesday.

The video posted by MMG Outboard Division, a bunch who says they "pleasure ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the beautiful 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 have been ignored and so they continued popping away with no care on this planet," the group posted in their message.

Miami-Dade police have made an arrest after cellphone video surfaced of people on a ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola experiences

Miami-Dade Police stated Wednesday night time that they arrested one man and handed out 9 civil citations.

The man was recognized as 29-year-old David Torres-Bocanegra. He was charged with reckless disregard for the environment.

“As a group, we share the responsibility to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a statement. "I am extraordinarily proud of 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 suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not responsible for the balloon popping.

"First off, I wish to put my coronary heart out and say how essential it is to guard the environment," he stated.

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

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We adorned the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we always do. We're never in command of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement learn in part.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I used to be here after they have been setting them up and then initially I didn't really think much of it but I assume as the day was completed they usually started popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

One witness stated the balloons could have been a part of a wedding proposal. Bruna said he confronted the folks.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys critical, is this something 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 just dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to internal damage, starvation, and demise.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.