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 group who says they "satisfaction ourselves on defending and spreading awareness on the attractive waters we get to name residence," 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 passed them and expressed our disagreement, we had been ignored and so 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 reviews

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

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

“As a group, we share the duty to guard the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a statement. "I am extremely 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 propose 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 heart out and say how vital it's to guard the environment," he said.

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

"Our balloon vendor decorated the boat and left. We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we at all times do. We are by no means in control of eradicating balloon decorations," the statement learn in part.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, this is our bay, that is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I used to be right here when they were setting them up and then initially I didn't really suppose much of it however I guess because the day was performed they usually began popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys severe, is this something you're going to do proper now?' [They] kind 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 those balloons into the water."

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

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.