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 group 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 were 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 people on a ship 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 9 civil citations.

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

“As a community, we share the responsibility to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez stated in a press release. "I'm extremely proud of 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 could suggest 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 heart out and say how vital it is to guard the environment," he stated.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, also deflected responsibility in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished 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 statement read partly.

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

"I was pretty upset about it, this is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I used to be here after they have been setting them up and then initially I did not actually think much of it but I assume because the day was achieved they usually began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

One witness said the balloons might have been part of a marriage proposal. Bruna stated he confronted the folks.

"I discussed to them,' are you guys severe, is that this one thing you're going to do right now?' [They] sort of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna stated. "It was horrifying to see what they were doing to the marine life and the waterways by simply dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee mentioned balloons could be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal harm, hunger, and dying.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.