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 protecting and spreading consciousness on the beautiful waters we get to name residence," was shot simply 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 handed them and expressed our disagreement, we had been ignored they usually 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 individuals on a boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola studies

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

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

“As a community, we share the accountability to protect our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a statement. "I am extremely happy with our Unlawful 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 could propose to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not accountable for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud 9, an occasion planning company, also deflected responsibility in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We decorated the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We're by no means accountable for removing balloon decorations," the assertion learn in part.

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

"I was fairly upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I was right here once they have been setting them up after which initially I didn't really assume much of it however I guess as the day was carried out and they started popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys critical, is that this one thing you are going to do right now?' [They] kind of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna stated. "It was horrifying to see what they had been 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 Commission said balloons might be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner damage, starvation, and death.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.