Boston Police arrest two men accused of “hazardous drone operation”

Amid multiple reports of possible drone activity over Massachusetts, the Boston Police Department arrested two men who are accused of hazardous drone operation in the Boston Harbor Islands.Robert Duffy, 42, of Charlestown and Jeremy Folcik, 32, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts were arrested Saturday night by the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit on Long Island, which is part of the Boston Harbor Islands.Police said the two men were operating the drone near Logan Airport’s airspace and the two men now face charges of trespassing, with additional fines or charges potentially forthcoming.The incident began around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, police said, when an officer specializing in real-time crime surveillance detected an Unmanned Aircraft System operating dangerously close to Logan International Airport.Police said the officer was able to identify the drone’s location, altitude, flight history, and the operators’ position on Long Island.Due to the drone’s close proximity to Logan Airport, police said additional resources were mobilized, including coordination with theU.S. Department of 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 said they dispatched members of the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit who located three individuals inside the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus.When they attempted to make contact with the men on Long Island, police said they fled on foot.Police said they then made contact with Duffy and Folcik and arrested them. During an investigation following their arrest, a drone was discovered inside a backpack carried by Duffy.Duffy and Folcik were then brought to the police station for booking.However, police said a third suspect is believed to have fled the island in a small vessel.The Massachusetts State Police are still searching for the third suspect.Duffy and Folcik are scheduled to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on a charge of trespassing.Police said further charges may be filed pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), drone operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions. Police said it is important for recreational drone operators to adhere to the FAA safety guidelines.