Balloon pollution in Miami: Officers arrest suspect, issue 9 citations

MIAMI – Tom Rivas mentioned he chartered a yacht for an engagement proposal.

Cloud 9, which focuses on romantic proposals, helped him to plan the occasion. All of it went easily. She mentioned, “Sure!” However hours later, the health coach’s occasion was related to air pollution in Biscayne Bay. Officers arrested one suspect and issued 9 citations on Wednesday.

“A really special occasion for us has was tons of hate messages,” Rivas wrote on Instagram.

Rivas mentioned he was contained in the yacht Tuesday afternoon on the Bayshore Touchdown Marina in Miami’s Coconut Grove and didn’t see what was occurring. A witness recorded a video that confirmed individuals on the yacht popping balloons that fell into the water.

“The crew proceeded to take away balloons … We actually had no concept till we noticed the movies,” Rivas wrote on Instagram.

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Native environmentalists had been outraged. The deflated latex, mylar, or vinyl balloons float on the floor of the water. Turtles, seabirds, and different marine animals typically mistake the fabric for jellyfish and eat it — or feed it to their younger.

A consultant of Cloud 9 mentioned the family-owned firm had discovered a lesson and is dedicated to now not utilizing balloons to brighten when occasions are close to the water.

For Rivas’s engagement, Cloud 9 claimed to activity a balloon vendor with adorning the yacht.

“We embellished the pier, completed the proposal, and cleaned up as we at all times do. We’re by no means accountable for eradicating balloon decorations. Now we are attempting to research the scenario from our aspect,” the occasion planner mentioned in an announcement.

Authorities introduced Wednesday that there was an ongoing investigation after Native 10 Information Anchor Louis Aguirre shared the witness video.

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4 p.m.: Reporter Christina Vazquez

6 p.m.: Anchor Louis Aguirre

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Native 10 Information Project Desk Editor Emily Hales contributed to this report.