More than 450 officers are hunting an armed fugitive who threatened to "torture a cop" before allegedly killing two officers in Victoria's alpine region. Photo / News.com.au
More than 450 officers are hunting an armed fugitive who threatened to "torture a cop" before allegedly killing two officers in Victoria's alpine region. Photo / News.com.au
The no-fly zone in Porepunkah has been extended as the manhunt for alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman enters its sixth day.
The update comes after Freeman’s wife broke her silence, urging her husband to surrender to police.
The no-fly zone was extended until 11.30pm on Tuesday, September 2, for “safetyreasons”, a Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed on Sunday evening.
The directive applies to all aircraft, including drones.
“Given the suspect in this matter is heavily armed, this condition has been granted due to the risk to aircraft and drones, as well as potential implications associated with the suspect tracking police movements based off media coverage,” the spokesperson said earlier.
The extension comes after Freeman’s wife, Amalia Freeman, expressed her “deep sorrow for the loss of the lives of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart” in a statement to the ABC via her lawyer.
“We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy,” Freeman said.
“I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will co-operate with Victoria Police in any way that I can.
“Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call triple-0 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.”
Dezi Freeman was previously arrested outside the Myrtleford courthouse in 2021. Photo / 7News
She also urged anyone who may be helping her husband to contact police.
It comes after it was revealed the alleged gunman told family he would “torture a cop for days and video it” in a disturbing text message.
In a previous text exchange with a member of his family, obtained by the Herald Sun, Freeman exposed his apparent hatred of police.
“Like if I torture a cop for days and video it in 4K until justice is satisfied,” he said in a text some time ago, as reported by The Herald Sun.
The exact context of the message is unknown.
More than 450 officers are scrambling to locate the armed fugitive in Victoria’s high country, as the intensive manhunt enters its sixth day.
Authorities are braced for gale-force winds and on-ground frost with temperatures forecast to hit -2C on Sunday morning.
Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, is alleged to have gunned down Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, at a property in Porepunkah in Victoria’s rugged alpine region on Tuesday morning.
Ten officers had gone to the Rayner St property, where several people lived, to serve a search warrant.
Freeman, 56, ran off into the bushland towards Mt Buffalo National Park after the shooting and has been at large since. He is believed to be heavily armed and is an experienced bushman.
The gunman is a self-identified “sovereign citizen”, practising an extreme anti-Government and anti-police ideology.
Weapons seized in nearby arrest
A 61-year-old man was taken into custody following a police raid about 5km from the location where Freeman allegedly shot dead two police officers.
Five days into the search, Victoria Police revealed they had executed a search warrant in the nearby town of Bright on Friday afternoon.
“Officers located and seized weapons and a quantity of cannabis inside a home about 4.45pm,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
“A 61-year-old Bright man was arrested at the property and is currently being interviewed by police.”
Asked whether the man was associated with Dezi Freeman, the spokeswoman said; “this line of inquiry will form part of the interview conducted by police”.
As of Sunday morning police are still yet to reveal whether the 61-year-old’s arrest is connected.
Authorities relocate command post
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Victoria Police revealed they had relocated their “forward command post” for the manhunt, from a staging ground at the Feathertop Winery in Porepunkah.
Instead, going forward, police will base themselves at a Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action site in Ovens – about 13km northwest.
“The new site is a fit for purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,” a spokeswoman said.
“We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area. Locals and visitors to the area will still see police activity in and around the Porepunkah and Alpine communities.
“Police would also like to acknowledge the unwavering assistance from Feathertop Winery staff and management and thank them for their generosity and use of the property and facilities.”
Police will not give up
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush on Friday called on Freeman to hand himself in, saying police would not give up till he was found.
“In fact, if that person is listening, it really is time to lay down your firearms and give yourself up,” he said.
“We have over 450 police officers dedicated to this task.
“I can assure you, from them, that they do have every resource they require to locate the person (allegedly) responsible for this horrific homicide.”
Chief Commissioner Bush also warned others in the community to not help him and contact authorities.
“If he is being aided in his escape, whoever is considering aiding him in this escape or avoiding apprehension, they are committing a criminal offence,” he said.
“This person does not deserve to be aided in any way. If any person knows him or comes in contact with him, they need to encourage him to hand himself in.”
Police officers from the South Australian and ACT forces were on their way to join the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police personnel already on the ground, Bush said.
Freeman’s wife Mali and a 15-year-old boy were arrested on Thursday night before being released without charge.
Chief Commissioner Bush confirmed the woman arrested on Thursday night was Freeman’s wife.
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