Manhunt for Alleged Cop Killer Enters Seventh Day in Victoria’s Alpine Region
More than 450 police officers are scouring Victoria’s alpine region for an armed fugitive who allegedly killed two officers and threatened to “torture a cop” before going on the run.
The no-fly zone in Porepunkah has been extended until Tuesday, September 2, amid concerns for public safety.
Wife Urges Husband to Surrender
The wife of Dezi Freeman, the 56-year-old man accused of killing Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, has appealed to her husband to surrender to police.
In a statement, Amalia Freeman expressed her “deep sorrow for the loss of the lives” of the two officers and urged anyone helping her husband to contact police.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, is believed to be heavily armed and has expert bushcraft skills.
He is accused of shooting the two officers at a property in Porepunkah on Tuesday morning before fleeing into the nearby Mount Buffalo National Park.
Background Information
Freeman has been identified as a self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” with an extreme anti-government and anti-police ideology.
In a disturbing text message, Freeman allegedly told family he would “torture a cop for days and video it” in a 4K resolution.
Police Operations
The Victoria Police have executed a search warrant in the nearby town of Bright, resulting in the seizure of weapons and cannabis.
A 61-year-old man was arrested at the property and is being interviewed by police.
Authorities are still investigating whether the man’s arrest is connected to Freeman.
The police have relocated their forward command post from the Feathertop Winery in Porepunkah to a Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action site in Ovens.
The new site is described as a “fit for purpose facility” that will better support the police operation.
Weather Conditions
The search operation is being hampered by extreme weather conditions, with gale-force winds and on-ground frost forecast for the region.
Temperatures are expected to drop to -2 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning.
Community Assistance
The police have thanked the community for their assistance in the search operation, particularly the Feathertop Winery staff and management, who provided facilities and support.
Police Warning
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has warned others in the community not to aid Freeman’s escape, stating that anyone helping him would be committing a criminal offence.
He urged anyone who comes into contact with Freeman to encourage him to surrender.
1 Comment
What I s wrong with being a sovereign citizens I Zen, the aborigines are pushing for sovereign country and citizzenship