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 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 gaggle who says they "satisfaction ourselves on defending and spreading awareness on the beautiful waters we get to name house," was shot just 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 were 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 studies

Miami-Dade Police stated Wednesday evening that they arrested one man and handed out nine civil citations.

The person was identified as 29-year-old David Torres-Bocanegra. He was charged with reckless disregard for the surroundings.

“As a group, we share the responsibility to protect our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez stated in an announcement. "I'm extremely 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 suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not chargeable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I need to put my coronary heart out and say how vital it is to protect the environment," he stated.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning company, additionally deflected duty in a statement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We embellished the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we always do. We are never in control of eradicating balloon decorations," the assertion read in part.

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 mentioned. "I used to be right here once they have been setting them up and then initially I didn't actually assume much of it however I assume as the day was accomplished and they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I used to be shocked."

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys serious, is that this one thing you're going to do proper now?' [They] sort of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna said. "It was horrifying to see what they have been 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 Fee mentioned balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner damage, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.