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 a number of 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 gaggle who says they "pride ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the beautiful waters we get to name dwelling," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Landing Marina.

Two individuals 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 they usually continued popping away with no care on the planet," the group posted in 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 mentioned Wednesday night time 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 atmosphere.

“As a neighborhood, we share the responsibility to guard our surroundings," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in a press release. "I'm 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 could suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram stories, saying he was not answerable for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning company, additionally deflected responsibility in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We embellished the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We're never answerable for removing balloon decorations," the statement learn partially.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, this is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna mentioned. "I was right here once they have been setting them up and then initially I didn't actually suppose a lot of it however I guess as the day was performed and they started popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys critical, is that this one thing you're going to do right now?' [They] sort 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 simply dumping all of these balloons into the water."

Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee said balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner harm, starvation, and death.

Balloon releases have been unlawful in Florida since 1989.