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 close to a Coconut Grove marina on Tuesday.

The video posted by MMG Outboard Division, a group who says they "pride ourselves on protecting and spreading consciousness on the attractive waters we get to call 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 passed them and expressed our disagreement, we had been ignored and 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 people on a boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

Miami-Dade Police mentioned Wednesday night time 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 setting.

“As a group, we share the accountability to guard the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez stated in a press release. "I am extraordinarily proud of our Illegal 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 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 coronary heart out and say how vital it's to guard the environment," he stated.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, also deflected responsibility in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We embellished the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We're never in control of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement learn partially.

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

"I was fairly upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I was here when they had been setting them up after which initially I didn't actually suppose a lot of it however I assume because the day was performed and they began popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I discussed to them,' are you guys critical, is that this something you're going to do right now?' [They] sort of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "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."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee stated balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to inner injury, hunger, and dying.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.