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

A man has been arrested after cellphone video captured what seemed 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 "delight ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the beautiful 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 handed them and expressed our disagreement, we had been ignored and so they continued popping away with no care on the 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 reviews

Miami-Dade Police said Wednesday evening that they arrested one man and handed out 9 civil citations.

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

“As a group, we share the duty to guard our environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in an announcement. "I am extraordinarily happy 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 suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not liable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I want to put my coronary heart out and say how important it's to protect our surroundings," he mentioned.

Cloud Nine, an event planning company, also deflected duty in a statement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We decorated the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We're by no means answerable for removing balloon decorations," the assertion learn partially.

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

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

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

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys severe, is this something you are going to do proper now?' [They] form 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."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee stated balloons might be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal injury, hunger, and demise.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.