Key Takeaways
- Two men, aged 48 and 45, were arrested in Victoria’s north‑east as part of the ongoing investigation into the seven‑month manhunt for police killer Dezi Freeman.
- Freeman shot dead Senior Constable Vadim de Waart‑Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson during a search‑warrant execution in August 2025; a third officer was seriously wounded.
- The arrests are not related to Freeman’s family, and police say the inquiry remains active while they seek to uncover who assisted him while he was on the run.
- Coronial proceedings revealed that Freeman was hiding at a property in Thologolong, acting on intelligence received a week before his death concerning alleged child‑sex offences.
- Freeman was linked to the sovereign‑citizen movement, refused to comply with routine police checks, and concurrently received disability welfare payments despite his anti‑government stance.
- Prior incidents include a 2021 arrest at a protest outside the Myrtleford Magistrates’ Court and an unsuccessful attempt to detain a magistrate using bogus “pseudo‑law” tactics.
Arrests in Victoria’s North‑East
Detectives investigating the movements of Dezi Freeman, the man who killed two Victoria Police officers, announced today that they have arrested two men aged 48 and 45 at separate locations in the state’s north‑east. Police emphasized that neither suspect is a member of Freeman’s family. The individuals will now be interviewed, and investigators stressed that the probe is still ongoing, so further details cannot be released at this time.
The Fatal Shooting of Officers Thompson and de Waart‑Hottart
In August 2025, Freeman opened fire on police who had arrived to execute a search warrant at his residence. Senior Constable Vadim de Waart‑Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson were shot dead, while a third officer sustained a serious leg injury. The incident sparked a massive manhunt that lasted seven months before Freeman was ultimately shot dead by police in March 2026.
Focus on Freeman’s Support Network
Since Freeman’s death, investigators have shifted their attention to uncovering who helped him evade capture and survive for more than half a year on the run. Police believe that understanding his support network is crucial to preventing similar cases and to holding anyone who aided him accountable. The recent arrests are part of that effort to trace possible accomplices or facilitators.
Coronial Hearing Sheds Light on Freeman’s Final Days
A directions hearing held in the Coroners Court on Monday outlined the final moments of Dezi Freeman on the morning of March 30, 2026. Counsel Assisting Lindsay Spence told the court that, a week before Freeman’s death, police had received intelligence indicating he was hiding at a property in Thologolong, roughly an hour’s drive from Albury.
Purpose of the Search Warrant and Child‑Abuse Allegations
Spence explained that the warrant executed the previous year stemmed from a disclosure of an alleged sexual assault involving a child under 16, as well as an attempt to involve a child in the production of child‑abuse material. The objective of the warrant was to locate and seize electronic devices for forensic examination to determine whether they contained child‑abuse content.
Family Presence at the Coronary Proceedings
The hearing was attended by family members of the fallen officers, including the partner and sisters of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson. Senior Constable de Waart‑Hottart’s parents participated via an online link, underscoring the profound impact the case continues to have on the victims’ loved ones.
Freeman’s Sovereign‑Citizen Ideology and Welfare Receipt
Freeman was described as a loosely associated member of the sovereign‑citizen movement, which rejects the legitimacy of Australian government and claims exemption from federal, state, and local laws. Despite his anti‑authority stance, he was a long‑term recipient of disability pension payments, illustrating a paradoxical reliance on the very system he denounced.
Prior Encounters with Law Enforcement
In 2021, Freeman was arrested at a protest outside the Myrtleford Magistrates’ Court where sovereign citizens attempted to privately prosecute former premier Daniel Andrews. Video footage showed him being tackled to the ground by officers before being handcuffed and led away through the crowd. He was also previously involved in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest a magistrate using bogus “pseudo‑law” tactics, further demonstrating his pattern of confrontational, legally dubious behavior.
Police Equipment and the Fugitive’s Hideout
During the operation that finally located Freeman, police deployed a bearcat armored vehicle alongside a shipping container in which he was found hiding at the Thologolong property. The image of the bearcat next to the container has become a visual symbol of the extensive resources expended to bring the seven‑month manhunt to a close.
Conclusion
The recent arrests mark a significant development in the investigation into Dezi Freeman’s evasion of justice, while the coronial inquiry continues to reveal the disturbing allegations that prompted the original search warrant. As police work to uncover any network that aided Freeman, the case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who reject legal authority yet exploit state benefits, and it underscores the importance of thorough inter‑agency cooperation in addressing both violent crime and complex extremist ideologies.