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 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 "pride ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the beautiful waters we get to call residence," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Touchdown Marina.

Two folks 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 on this planet," the group posted in 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 reviews

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

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

“As a neighborhood, we share the accountability to guard our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a press release. "I am extraordinarily happy with our Unlawful Dumping Unit, for his or her 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 tales, saying he was not answerable for the balloon popping.

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

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

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We decorated the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We're never in command of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement read partly.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I was here after they were setting them up and then initially I did not actually suppose a lot of it but I suppose because the day was executed they usually started popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

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

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

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner injury, starvation, and dying.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.