BREAKING: Heavily Armed Police Storm Rural Property in Desperate Hunt for Cop-Killer Dezi Freeman
- Police operation underway in Benalla, 100km from where fugitive Dezi Freeman was last seen
- Fugitive accused of killing two police officers and injuring a third in shootout last month
- Police focus on rural property connected to one of Freeman’s associates, but refuse to reveal what they’ve found
In a dramatic and intense operation, police have stormed a rural property in Benalla, Victoria, as part of the massive manhunt for Dezi Freeman, the alleged cop-killer who has been on the run for weeks. The 56-year-old fugitive is accused of shooting dead two police officers and injuring a third in a shootout last month.
The police operation, which involved a team of tactical police and specialist resources, focused on a rural home connected to one of Freeman’s associates. The property, located about 100km from where Freeman was last seen, was raided on Wednesday, with police officers swooping in and Police Airwing circling above.
While authorities remained tight-lipped about what they found during the operation, they reassured the community that there was no immediate risk to safety. “Further information will be provided once operationally appropriate to do so,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
The manhunt for Freeman has been ongoing since August 26, when he allegedly shot dead Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, as they served a warrant at his semi-rural property in Porepunkah. A third officer, a detective, underwent surgery for a leg wound, while seven other police escaped physically uninjured.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, allegedly fled the scene and has not been seen since. Despite scaling back the search last week, police remain determined to bring him to justice.