MANHUNT IN THE MOUNTAINS: Desperate search for ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman INTENSIFIES as police scour Victorian wilderness for cop killer
- Two police officers slaughtered, one critically injured in rural ambush
- Dezi Freeman, 56, on the run in Mount Buffalo National Park, sparking massive manhunt
- $1 million reward offered for information leading to Freeman’s capture
In the usually tranquil town of Porepunkah, a sense of unease has settled over the community as police launch a frantic search for Dezi Freeman, the 56-year-old self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” accused of gunning down two Victoria Police officers and critically injuring another on August 26.
Freeman, an experienced bushman with intimate knowledge of the region, has vanished into the unforgiving wilderness of Mount Buffalo National Park, sparking a massive manhunt that has seen hundreds of officers from multiple agencies scour the area.
“He’s not a criminal,” his wife Amalia Freeman said in a statement, urging her husband to surrender. “I want him to come home safely, and I want the community to be safe.”
But as the search enters its ninth day, authorities remain tight-lipped about any potential sightings or leads, despite receiving over 450 pieces of public information and confirming they believe Freeman is being harboured by friends or sympathisers in the community.
The tragic events unfolded on Tuesday, August 26, when two police officers, Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, were killed and a third officer was critically injured during a routine warrant execution at a rural property in Porepunkah.
As the manhunt intensified, Premier Jacinta Allan and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush visited Wangaratta police station, pledging to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of Freeman.
With the $1 million reward for information leading to Freeman’s capture now in place, the people of Porepunkah are holding their breath, wondering when the fugitive will be brought to justice and their town can return to a sense of normalcy.
But for now, the usually idyllic town remains on high alert, its residents warned to stay vigilant as the search for Dezi Freeman continues to grip the nation.