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 bunch who says they "delight ourselves on protecting and spreading consciousness on the attractive waters we get to call dwelling," was shot simply after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing Marina.

Two individuals 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 so they continued popping away with no care in the world," 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 studies

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 atmosphere.

“As a community, we share the accountability to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in a press release. "I am extraordinarily happy 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 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 important it's to protect our environment," he stated.

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

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We are by no means accountable for removing balloon decorations," the statement learn partly.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I was right here when they have been setting them up after which initially I didn't actually suppose much of it but I suppose because the day was executed and they began popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

One witness stated the balloons may have been a part of a marriage proposal. Bruna stated he confronted the people.

"I discussed to them,' are you guys serious, is this one thing you are going to do proper now?' [They] type of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "It was horrifying to see what they have been doing to the marine life and the waterways by simply dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee mentioned balloons could be mistaken for food by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal damage, hunger, and dying.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.