14 DAY TRIAL // Only recently, Anthony Brasfield found himself arrested for the crime of having released a total of 12 helium balloons in the sky. By the looks of it, this man has been charged with a three-degree felony, and will soon be made to face the legal consequences of his deed.
Information made available to the general public says that this 40-year-old man only released said heart-shaped balloons into the sky because he wished to entertain his girlfriend, Shaquina Baxter.
Thus, the two were enjoying an otherwise peaceful morning in a Motel 6 parking lot in Dania Beach, Florida and the balloons were meant to build up the romance.
However, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who witnessed Anthony Brasfield's releasing the balloons decided that the man's gesture went against the rules and regulations listed under the Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Act.
Therefore, he arrested Anthony and made sure that three-degree felony charges were filed against him.
As this trooper later explained, helium balloons can travel over long distances, and constitute a threat to both natural ecosystems and animals.
This is because, should one such balloon end up in the ocean, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, birds and other such animals could easily mistake it for something they could eat, and gulp it down before realizing that it is not actually edible, Huffington Post explains.
Needless to say, this can translate into their experiencing blockages in their digestive tract and sometimes even into their dying in a rather painful manner.
For those unaware, third-degree felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison, so one can only assume that, should he manage to avoid jail time, Anthony Brasfield will from now on think twice before releasing a helium balloon into the sky.
On the other hand, following this particular piece of news, few can argue against the fact that some law enforcement officers in Florida really do hold environmental protection very close at heart.