A pair of Florida teens at the center of a viral video showing them dumping giant bins of trash into the Atlantic Ocean off the side of a boat have surrendered to authorities.
The suspects, a 15-year-old from Gulf Stream and a 16-year-old from Boynton Beach, turned themselves into police on Friday, NBC Miami reported. They’ve each been charged with one third-degree felony count of causing pollution, so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, or aquatic life or property, according to arrest reports filed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
If convicted, the teens could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
“The illegal dumping of trash in our marine environment is a serious crime, and we worked closely with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office to determine appropriate charges,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.
“Callous disregard for Florida’s environment will not be tolerated,” he continued. “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.”
Viral video of the incident, which was shared online by content creator Wavy Boats, features 10 people on a boat traveling out of Boca Raton Inlet on Sunday afternoon. At one point, a teen can be seen lifting a can full of garbage over his head and then emptying its contents overboard.
“He emptied the contents of his basket directly into the water,” the arrest report said. “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.”
A second boater onboard then follows suit, dumping bottles, cans and other rubbish into the ocean.
The FWC said it launched an investigation into the matter on Monday, after the video triggered a series of complaints. According to the arrest report, investigators with the agency used the boat’s registration to track down its owner, who is the father of the 15-year-old suspect.
“This is not a representation as of who we are,” the father reportedly told the investigator, who visited their home on Tuesday.
Both teens were booked at the Palm Beach Juvenile Detention Center and then released on Friday night. The State Attorney’s Office has 30 days to decide whether to try them as adults.
