Arrest Made in Balloon Littering Investigation at Coconut Grove Marina – NBC 6 South Florida

A man 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 gaggle who says they "pride ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the attractive waters we get to name residence," was shot simply 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 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 individuals on a boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola reviews

Miami-Dade Police mentioned Wednesday night 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 neighborhood, we share the duty to guard our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a statement. "I am extraordinarily 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 might suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not responsible for the balloon popping.

"First off, I need to put my coronary heart out and say how necessary it is to protect our surroundings," he said.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning firm, additionally deflected duty in a statement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor adorned the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We are never answerable for eradicating balloon decorations," the assertion read in part.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, that is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I used to be right here after they have been setting them up and then initially I did not actually think much of it however I suppose as the day was carried out and so they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I used to be shocked."

One witness mentioned the balloons could have been a part of a wedding proposal. Bruna said he confronted the folks.

"I discussed to them,' are you guys critical, is that this something you are going to do proper now?' [They] type of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna said. "It was horrifying to see what they had been doing to the marine life and the waterways by just dumping all of these balloons into the water."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stated balloons can be mistaken for food by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner damage, starvation, and loss of life.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.