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

A man 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 defending and spreading consciousness on the beautiful waters we get to call residence," was shot simply 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 passed them and expressed our disagreement, we have been ignored and they continued popping away with no care on the planet," the group posted of 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 night 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 environment.

“As a group, we share the responsibility to protect our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in an announcement. "I am extraordinarily proud of 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 might suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not answerable for the balloon popping.

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

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

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We decorated the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We are never in command of removing balloon decorations," the assertion read partially.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I was right here once they have been setting them up and then initially I didn't really suppose much of it however I guess as the day was performed they usually started 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 wedding proposal. Bruna stated he confronted the individuals.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys critical, is that this something you're going to do right 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 these balloons into the water."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said balloons can be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal damage, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.