Two men were arrested after allegedly flying a drone “dangerously close to Logan International Airport,” according to the Boston Police Department.
Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, were arrested by members of the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit at 10:22 p.m. Saturday.
A third suspect fled the scene in a boat and has not been caught, police said.
Logan International Airport borders Boston Harbor, as shown on July 29, 2020.
Boston Globe via Getty Images
Police began tracking an Unmanned Aircraft System around 4:30 p.m., according to a statement released Sunday.
Using advanced technology, officials were able to identify his exact location, altitude and flight history, among other things.
Based on this information, the object was recognized as a potential threat to Logan International’s airspace.
The Boston Police Department then coordinated with Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control to deal with the situation.
Officers from the Harbor Patrol Unit were dispatched to Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, in response to a “dangerous drone operation,” according to a police statement.
Three people who had been kicked out of the Long Island Health campus fled on foot when police approached, officials said.
The two suspects — Duffy and Folcik — were apprehended.
A drone was found in Duffy’s backpack, the release said.
Both suspects are charged with assault, with additional fines or charges, according to Boston police.
They will be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on a date yet to be determined.
According to the police, the search is on for the third suspect, who fled the island in a small boat.
