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

A man has been arrested after cellphone video captured what appeared 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 bunch who says they "pleasure ourselves on protecting and spreading awareness on the gorgeous waters we get to name residence," 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 were ignored and they continued popping away with no care in the world," the group posted in their message.

Miami-Dade police have made an arrest after cellphone video surfaced of individuals on a boat popping balloons into the ocean. NBC 6's Jamie Guirola experiences

Miami-Dade Police mentioned Wednesday evening that they arrested one man and handed out 9 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 accountability to protect the environment," Miami-Dade Police Director George A. Perez said in a press release. "I am extraordinarily pleased with 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 liable for the balloon popping.

"First off, I want to put my heart out and say how important it is to guard our environment," he said.

Cloud Nine, an occasion planning company, also deflected duty in an announcement on Instagram.

"Our balloon vendor embellished the boat and left. We adorned the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up like we always do. We're never in command of removing balloon decorations," the assertion read partly.

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

"I used to be fairly upset about it, this is our bay, this is our livelihood," Bruna said. "I used to be here when they have been setting them up after which initially I did not really assume much of it however I assume because the day was completed they usually started popping away and letting them all go into the water I was shocked."

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

"I mentioned to them,' are you guys serious, is that this something you are going to do proper now?' [They] type 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 simply dumping all of those balloons into the water."

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission mentioned balloons can be mistaken for food by sea turtles and other marine animals, and if eaten, can result in inner damage, starvation, and dying.

Balloon releases have been illegal in Florida since 1989.