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

A man has been arrested after cellphone video captured what seemed 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 "delight ourselves on protecting and spreading consciousness on the gorgeous waters we get to name dwelling," 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 have been 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 ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

Miami-Dade Police mentioned Wednesday night time 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 atmosphere.

“As a neighborhood, we share the accountability to guard the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in a statement. "I am extraordinarily pleased with 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 might propose to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not accountable for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud 9, an event planning firm, additionally deflected duty in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We adorned the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We're by no means in charge of removing balloon decorations," the assertion read partially.

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

"I was fairly upset about it, this is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I used to be here once they were setting them up after which initially I didn't really assume much of it but I guess as the day was accomplished they usually began popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys critical, is this something you're going to do proper now?' [They] form of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna said. "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 Fee said balloons will be mistaken for food by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to internal injury, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.