Two Massachusetts men who flew a drone “dangerously close” to Logan International Airport in Boston are facing charges, police say. 

Robert Duffy, 42, of Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood and Jeremy Folcik, 32, of Bridgewater were taken into custody late Saturday night on Long Island, which is located on the approach to the airport, according to the Boston Police Department. 

“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,” police said in a statement. “Leveraging advanced UAS monitoring technology, the Officer identified the drone’s location, altitude, flight history, and the operators’ position on Long Island.” 

“Members of the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit were dispatched to Long Island and located three individuals inside the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus. Upon attempting to make contact, the suspects fled on foot,” police added. “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.” 

FORMER GOVERNOR SPOTS MYSTERY DRONES IN MARYLAND, BLASTS FEDS FOR LACK OF TRANSPARENCY 

Investigators believe the third individual fled the island – which is part of the Boston Harbor Islands – on a “small vessel.”  

Duffy and Folcik are now facing charges of trespassing, although the Boston Police Department noted that more charges and fines could follow.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS DOWNPLAY CONCERNS ABOUT DRONE SIGHTINGS: ‘SLIGHT OVERREACTION’ 

There are numerous buildings on the abandoned Long Island near Boston, Mass. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Police also said that because of the “serious risks posed by the drone’s proximity to Logan’s airspace,” the Department of Homeland Security, Massachusetts State Police, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control were contacted to help with the response. 

Long Island, located on the approach to Boston’s Logan airport, is shown here in the background on Jan. 5, 2024. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

“The Boston Police Department reminds recreational drone operators of the importance of adhering to Federal Aviation Administration safety guidelines. Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions,” Boston Police added. “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.” 

The Boston Police Department put out two Missing Person notices over the weekend, asking for the public’s help to find 35-year old Amera Zvekic and 61-year old Elba Portillo.

Allston resident Amera Zvekic 

Police released the notice for Zvekic on Dec. 13. While she is currently homeless, police said she normally keeps in regular contact with her family. However, the notice said family members last saw her three months ago, and last spoke with her in March.

BDP said she is a 5’7” white woman, around 120 pounds, with long brown hair. She has tattoos on her lower back and left arm and has a nose piercing. 

She is usually in or near Southampton Street, Melnea Cass Boulevard, and Government Center, police said. 

Police encouraged anyone who sees Zvekic to call 911, or contact local detectives at 617-343-5619. 

East Boston resident Elba Portillo

Boston police said Portillo was last seen around 9:30 on Dec. 13 around Marion Street while she was going to her workplace on Meridian Street. She did not show up to work, police said. 

According to BPD, Portillo has gone missing in the past and is known to sit along the East Boston waterfront. Police said she might suffer from insomnia and early stages of dementia. 

Police described her as a Hispanic woman who is 5’3’’ and weighs around 140 pounds. She has light skin with brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black jacket, purple sweatpants, and a crossbody brown purse, police said.

Similar to Zvekic, police said anyone who sees Portillo should call 911, or detectives at 617-343-4234.

Eva Levin is a general assignment co-op for Boston.com. She covers breaking and local news in Boston and beyond.

The hot stove is just starting to smoke for the Boston Red Sox.

On Wednesday, the Red Sox entered the offseason chat by trading for star pitcher Garrett Crochet in exchange for a four-prospect package. But if Boston wants to end its three-year postseason drought, there’s more work to be done.

Adding Crochet is a good start, but this Red Sox rotation, which faded during the playoff chase last summer, still needs one more solid arm. Why not go for an ace?

The biggest prize remaining on the free-agent market by far is Corbin Burnes, recently projected for a seven-year, $255.5 million contract by Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report. The Red Sox are in on Burnes to some degree, but face stiff competition in the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays.

On Saturday, Michael Brakebill of FanSided predicted that the Red Sox would carry the day. Brakebill named signing Burnes as the most essential move for Boston to make with the rest of their offseason.

“Burnes will be expensive, but he’s an ace, and in the AL East, it will be challenging to compete with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles without adding another top-tier pitcher this winter,” Brakebill said.

“Pulling off the Crochet trade was essential, but now it’s time to put their foot on the gas and land someone significant. Signing Burnes double dips into their win-now mentality after getting Crochet, and at the very least, could see them sneak into the Wild Card picture next season.”

Burnes’ best quality is the fact that he’s a total workhorse. He’s made over 30 starts in four straight seasons, all four of which turned into All-Star selections, and one of those seasons turned into a Cy Young award (2021).

There’s no one currently available who would increase the Red Sox’s playoff odds more than Burnes. It’s been a long time since the Red Sox made this big a splash in free agency, but Burnes is exactly the type of player they need to make an exception for.

More MLB: Red Sox Proposed Blockbuster Lands Pirates Rookie Superstar For Wilyer Abreu