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 bunch who says they "satisfaction ourselves on defending and spreading awareness on the beautiful waters we get to name home," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing 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 in the world," the group posted in 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 evening that they arrested one man and handed out nine civil citations.

The man was identified 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 press release. "I'm extraordinarily pleased 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 might suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not responsible for the balloon popping.

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

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

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We embellished the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We are by no means in control of removing balloon decorations," the assertion learn partly.

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

"I was pretty upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I used to be right here once they were setting them up and then initially I did not actually assume a lot of it however I assume as the day was achieved and they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

One witness said the balloons might have been part of a wedding proposal. Bruna said he confronted the individuals.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys severe, is this one thing you are going to do proper now?' [They] type of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "It was horrifying to see what they had been doing to the marine life and the waterways by simply dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said balloons could be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to internal injury, hunger, and dying.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.