Florida teens caught dumping trash into the Atlantic Ocean over the side of a boat in a viral video have turned themselves in.
Two members from the group of teens were captured pouring barrels of trash over the side of the boat off the coast of Florida in the clip which has done the rounds on social media.
They handed themselves into police as they face a felony pollution charge, court records state.
The suspects, a 15-year-old from Gulf Stream and a 16-year-old from Boynton Beach have been charged with one count of causing pollution, so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, or aquatic life or property.
READ NEXT: Storm chaser saves Texas family of 4 as tornado rips through home
Arrest reports were filed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The charge the teenagers face is a third-degree felony. It carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a $50,000 fine if convicted.
After the teens turned themselves over on Friday, FWC chairman Rodney Varreto released a statement.
He said “callous disregard for Florida’s environment will not be tolerated.”
“This is a teaching moment for all those involved – Florida’s natural resources are precious, and we should all do our part to protect them,” he added.
How the Florida teens were identified after dumping trash in the ocean
The incident was caught on Sunday in the Boca Inlet as the group were seen headed away from the annual Boca Bash, documents said.
Content Creator posted the clip on YouTube, Wavy Boats, and it shows two people dumping a trash bin full of garbage over the side into the water.
The 15-year-old minor who has been charged was driving the boat and tossed trash into the ocean that included plastic water bottles, food bags, cans, plastic cups and other items not identifiable, documents add.
READ NEXT: Little girl tragically killed in Southeast Washington by crossfire in nighttime shooting
“After he emptied the contents of his basket directly into the water. He is seen holding the basket over his head pumping the basket up and down as if he was celebrating the dumping of the trash into the water,” the arrest report noted.
“Throughout the video there is drone footage showing the trash (pollutants) scattered across the surface of the ocean, with the pollutants being dispersed by the rough waves and wind.”
The clip also shows the 16-year-old throwing trash over the side too.
The FWC explained an investigator visited the owner of the registered boat, and a man – identifying himself as the 15-year-old’s father – said they were retaining legal counsel.
“This is not a representation as of who we are,” the father told the investigator, according to the arrest report.
On Wednesday the investigator spoke to the father of the other teenager, who was also seeking legal counsel.
The arrest report states the FWC spoke to witnesses at the scene who were able to identify the suspects.
READ NEXT: Donald Trump’s lawyers trying ‘different methods’ to stop him falling asleep in court
Parents apologize
The parents of one of the teens released a statement, apologizing, and said viewers were “rightfully upset by what occurred”. They added they were cooperating with authorities.
“We take the responsibility of caring for our oceans and our community very seriously, and we are extremely saddened by what occurred last weekend at Boca Bash,” the statement said.
It continued the family believes “that this is a teaching moment for the young kids involved and they should certainly participate in community service and ocean conservation efforts to deepen their understanding of the importance of our community and environment.”
Boca Bash organizers also released a statement, explaining the teens’ actions did not represent the event.
“We do not condone this behavior by any means and are appalled that the passengers even had the audacity to clap at the drone that was filming them dumping their garbage,” the statement said. “We hope the repercussions handed down can be viewed publicly as a warning of how important our waters are to us native Floridians.”
Watch the full clip below:
READ NEXT: Two young children left abandoned and alone in apartment as mom goes on a cruise
Comments are closed.