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

A man has been arrested after cellphone video captured what gave the impression 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 bunch who says they "satisfaction ourselves on defending and spreading awareness on the beautiful waters we get to name house," 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 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 individuals on a ship popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola stories

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

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

“As a group, we share the responsibility to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez stated in a statement. "I am extremely pleased with our Unlawful Dumping Unit, for his or her 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 accountable for the balloon popping.

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

Cloud Nine, an event planning firm, additionally deflected accountability in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We adorned the pier, finished the proposal, and cleaned up like we always do. We're never answerable for removing balloon decorations," the statement read partly.

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

"I used to be pretty upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna stated. "I was here after they had been setting them up after which initially I didn't really think much of it however I assume because the day was performed and they began popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

One witness mentioned the balloons might have been a part of a marriage proposal. Bruna said he confronted the folks.

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys severe, is that this something you are going to do right now?' [They] type of simply blew me off, ignored me," Bruna said. "It was horrifying to see what they were 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 stated balloons could be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can lead to internal damage, hunger, and dying.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.