Police detect drone flying too close to Logan, track it to closed shelter on Long Island, arrest two men for being dumbasses

Boston Police report arresting two of the three men they say were piloting a drone dangerously close to Logan Airport Saturday night.

Police say the three men were flying the drone around from a building at Boston's closed shelter complex on Long Island, and that the third man managed to flee harbor-unit officers, possibly in the small boat the three are believed to have used to get to the island, which is no longer accessible by land.

Robert Duffy, 42, of Charlestown and Jeremy Folcik, 32, of Bridgewater, are scheduled for arraignment in Dorchester Municipal Court Monday on a charge of trespassing, police say, adding, however, they could face additional charges. In September, federal officials charged a local man with violating national defense airspace for flying a drone over the Boston Marathon finish line.

According to police:

The incident began earlier that evening, at 4:30 PM, when a Boston Police Officer specializing in real-time crime surveillance detected an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operating dangerously close to Logan International Airport. Leveraging advanced UAS monitoring technology, the Officer identified the drone’s location, altitude, flight history, and the operators’ position on Long Island.

Recognizing the serious risks posed by the drone’s proximity to Logan’s airspace, additional resources were mobilized. The Boston Police Department coordinated with Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control to address the situation.

Police say Harbor Patrol officers docked at Long Island around 10:20 p.m. and spotted the three guys:

Two of the three individuals were apprehended and identified as Duffy and Folcik. During the investigation, a drone was discovered inside a backpack carried by Duffy.

The two suspects were transported to District A-1 for booking. A continued search for the third suspect, believed to have fled the island in a small vessel, was conducted by officers and the Massachusetts State Police.

Police add:

Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions. Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to airplanes and helicopters. Near-collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk.

FAA drone safety guidelines.