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 near 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 attractive waters we get to name home," was shot simply after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Touchdown 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 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 people on a ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

Miami-Dade Police stated Wednesday evening that they arrested one man and handed out 9 civil citations.

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

“As a community, we share the accountability to guard our environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez stated in an announcement. "I am extremely 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 could propose to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not responsible for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, additionally deflected accountability in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We decorated the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We're never in control of eradicating balloon decorations," the assertion learn partly.

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

"I was pretty upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I used to be right here when they have been setting them up and then initially I did not really think a lot of it however I suppose because the day was performed and so they began popping away and letting them all go into the water I used to be shocked."

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys critical, is this one thing you're going to do right now?' [They] form of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "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 Commission stated balloons will be mistaken for food by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inside harm, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.