Australian Police Arrest Two in Hunt for Alleged Cop Killer Dezi Freeman
In a significant development in the search for accused police killer Dezi Freeman, Australian authorities have arrested two individuals in the rural Victorian town of Porepunkah, following a raid on a property overnight.
Freeman, a 56-year-old self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen,” is suspected of fatally shooting two police officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, when they visited his property on Tuesday to execute a warrant for alleged sexual offences against a child.
Property Raid and Arrests
According to police, a 42-year-old woman, believed to be Freeman’s wife, Mali, and a 15-year-old boy were taken into custody and later released after being questioned.
The arrests mark a crucial step in the ongoing manhunt for Freeman, who is considered “armed and dangerous.”
The search, now in its fourth day, has seen police scouring the dense and steep terrain surrounding Freeman’s property, with local hunters describing the area as having no easy walking paths.
Freeman is believed to be heavily armed and has evaded capture so far.
Background on Dezi Freeman
Freeman, born Desmond Filby, changed his surname to reflect his status as a sovereign citizen, a fringe group that rejects government authority and often promotes conspiracy theories.
In 2021, he was arrested outside a courthouse for attempting to privately prosecute then-Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews on treason and fraud charges.
Police initially visited Freeman’s property to execute a warrant related to alleged sexual offences against a child under the age of 16, which allegedly took place within the past two years.
Victims and Investigation
The two police officers killed in the attack, Neal Thompson, 59, and Vadim De Waart, 35, were allegedly shot by Freeman at his rural property.
A third officer was wounded and has undergone surgery.
Thompson, who was due to retire next month, and De Waart, a 35-year-old officer from Melbourne, were remembered by authorities as dedicated professionals who were tragically killed in the line of duty.
The investigation into the attack and the ongoing search for Freeman continue, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.