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 several 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 group who says they "pleasure ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to name dwelling," was shot just after 4 p.m. at Bayshore Touchdown 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 were ignored they usually continued popping away with no care on this 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 evening that they arrested one man and handed out nine civil citations.

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

“As a community, we share the duty to guard the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez mentioned in a statement. "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 could suggest to his girlfriend, responded to the criticisms on his Instagram tales, saying he was not answerable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I need to put my heart out and say how necessary it is to guard the environment," he stated.

Cloud 9, an event planning firm, also deflected accountability in a press release on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We adorned the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we all the time do. We are never in charge of removing balloon decorations," the assertion read partially.

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

"I was fairly upset about it, that 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 actually assume a lot of it but I guess because the day was finished and they began popping away and letting all of them go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys critical, is this one thing you're going to do proper now?' [They] sort of just blew me off, ignored me," Bruna mentioned. "It was horrifying to see what they have 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 mentioned balloons will be mistaken for meals by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in internal damage, hunger, and loss of life.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.