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

A person has been arrested after cellphone video captured what appeared to be several 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 group who says they "pleasure ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to call house," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing Marina.

Two people 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 they continued popping away with no care on this planet," 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 stories

Miami-Dade Police mentioned Wednesday evening 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 setting.

“As a group, we share the responsibility to protect our environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez stated in an announcement. "I am extremely happy 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 may suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, 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 stated.

Cloud 9, an occasion planning firm, also deflected duty in a statement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We're never in command of eradicating balloon decorations," the assertion read partly.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, that is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I used to be here when they were setting them up after which initially I did not really assume a lot of it but I assume as the day was achieved and so they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

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

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

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee said balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to inner damage, hunger, and dying.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.