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

A person has been arrested after cellphone video captured what seemed to be a number of 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 "delight ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to name house," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing 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 have been ignored and so they continued popping away with no care in the world," 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 experiences

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

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

“As a community, we share the accountability to protect our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a press release. "I'm extraordinarily pleased 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 propose to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not accountable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I want to put my heart out and say how important it is to protect our surroundings," he stated.

Cloud Nine, an event planning firm, additionally deflected responsibility in a statement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We embellished the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We are by no means in control of 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, this is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I was here once they have been setting them up and then initially I did not actually suppose much of it however I assume because the day was done and they started popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

One witness mentioned the balloons might have been part of a wedding proposal. Bruna stated he confronted the individuals.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys severe, is that this something you're going to do proper now?' [They] type of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "It was horrifying to see what they had 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 said balloons may be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and different marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to inner harm, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.