BOCA RATON, Fla. – One of the teenagers on the boat at the center of a viral video showing trash being illegally dumped into the waters off South Florida said he’s disturbed by what happened.
The 15-year-old asked not to be identified, but said he wasn’t one of those seen on video dumping garbage into the ocean. He said he was one of more than a dozen people on the boat at the time and didn’t notice the others who did dump the trash over the weekend, off Boca Raton.
“I was looking straight, I was in front of the boat, it’s a pretty big boat so you don’t really notice,” he said.
The teenager said he feels bad that the incident even happened to begin with.
“I completely disagree, that shouldn’t have been the choice he made, but it’s what happened,” he said. “I do feel a little remorse for him, but I feel like he deserves whatever happens because he made a really bad decision.”
“I wish I could have been off of that boat,” he added. “I’m sorry for whatever happened.”
Meanwhile, Lola Dutremble said she decided to collect garbage at sea after watching the viral video that is part of an investigation into an environmental crime off Boca Raton.
“We live in such a beautiful area; no one should be doing that,” said Dutremble, a surfing instructor, avid swimmer, and sunscreen entrepreneur.
To help spread her environmental message, Dutremble posted an Instagram video of her mission. She said she collected garbage near the dumping area at the Inlet.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating.
“Our investigators are actively looking into this and we are identifying the subjects that were involved in the illegal dumping of trash in our marine environment,” FWC Officer Tyson Matthews said. “We are working closely with (prosecutors) in Palm Beach County and will determine the appropriate charges for these individuals.”
FWC officials said no arrests have been made in the case and they haven’t released the identities of the litterers.
Local 10 News is not identifying them until state officials do.