Two individuals were taken into custody in Boston on Saturday for allegedly engaging in a “dangerous drone operation” near Logan International Airport, as reported by the police. The suspects, identified as Robert Duffy, 42, from Charlestown, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, from Bridgewater, are facing charges of trespassing, with the possibility of additional fines or charges in the future. The Boston Police Department released a statement stating that the incident began around 4:30 p.m. when an officer specializing in real-time surveillance detected an unmanned aircraft system operating in close proximity to the airport. The drone’s location, altitude, and flight history were identified, leading to the operators being found inside an abandoned health facility on Long Island, a part of the Boston Harbor Islands. The Boston PD worked in collaboration with various agencies such as Homeland Security, Massachusetts State Police, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Federal Communications Commission, and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control to manage the situation. Upon dispatching the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit to Long Island, three individuals were located. Two of the suspects, Duffy and Folcik, attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended. During the investigation, a drone was found in Duffy’s backpack. These arrests come amidst a series of drone sightings in the Northeast region, prompting concerns from residents and officials. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the deployment of advanced detection systems in New York and New Jersey following recent drone sightings that have caused unease among the public. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced the deployment of additional resources to address the drone sightings, emphasizing the importance of tracking such aerial activities.Two individuals have been taken into custody in Boston under suspicion of piloting a drone above restricted airspace near Vandenberg Space Force Base, as per Mayorkas.
