Two individuals were arrested on Saturday, December 14, 2024, following a dangerous drone operation on Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, for operating a drone near the airspace of Logan International Airport.
The Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit apprehended 42-year-old Robert Duffy of Charlestown and 32-year-old Jeremy Folcik of Bridgewater.
The incident was first detected around 4:30 PM when a Boston Police officer monitoring real-time crime data identified an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operating perilously close to Logan Airport. The officer used advanced drone surveillance tools to pinpoint the drone’s location, altitude, flight path, and operator position on Long Island.
Recognizing the significant risks posed by drones to air traffic, the Boston Police coordinated with Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control.
Harbor Patrol Unit officers were dispatched to Long Island, where they found three individuals at the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus. When officers attempted to engage, the suspects fled on foot. Two suspects were apprehended and identified as Duffy and Folcik. A drone was later discovered in a backpack Duffy carried.
Both suspects were transported to District A-1 for booking on trespassing charges and are scheduled for arraignment in Dorchester District Court. Additional fines or charges may follow pending the findings of the investigation. A third suspect remains at large and is believed to have escaped the island by boat.
In a statement, the Boston Police Department emphasized the dangers posed by drones operating near restricted airspace, warning that even small drones can pose catastrophic risks to airplanes and helicopters. The department urged recreational drone operators to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines and reminded the public that drones are prohibited from flying over people, vehicles, or restricted areas.
