Key Takeaways
- A targeted search has been conducted in the Mount Buffalo National Park to locate evidence or the body of fugitive Dezi Freeman, who allegedly fatally shot two police officers in Porepunkah, Victoria.
- The search, which focused on a less than 1 square kilometer area of thick bush and heavy terrain, did not yield any trace of Mr. Freeman.
- Victoria Police has vowed to do everything possible to find the fugitive, with hundreds of officers and specialist resources involved in the search efforts.
- A $1 million reward remains for any information that leads to the arrest of Mr. Freeman, the largest arrest reward in Victorian history.
- The police will maintain their presence around the national park and local area, and will continue to conduct targeted searches based on intelligence.
Introduction to the Search
Victoria Police has conducted a targeted search in the Mount Buffalo National Park as part of its ongoing investigation into the alleged fatal shooting of two police officers by fugitive Dezi Freeman. The search, which took place over the past week, focused on locating evidence or the body of Mr. Freeman, who has been on the run for four months. According to a police spokesperson, the search area was previously searched in September with the purpose of locating an active armed offender, but on this occasion, search teams were focused on identifying and locating evidence or the body of Mr. Freeman.
The Search Efforts
The search efforts involved police conducting line searches and clearing caves in the thick bush and heavy terrain of the Mount Buffalo National Park. The Drone Unit and the Dog Squad were also involved in the search, which covered an area of less than 1 square kilometer. Despite the extensive search, no trace of Mr. Freeman was located. The police spokesperson said that the search was part of the ongoing investigation and that the police would continue to conduct targeted searches based on intelligence.
The Incident and Investigation
The incident occurred on August 26, when Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson were shot dead while executing a warrant related to historic sexual offences at Mr. Freeman’s rural property in Porepunkah. A third officer was injured in the incident. Since then, hundreds of officers and specialist resources from across Victoria and other states of Australia, as well as New Zealand, have been involved in the search efforts. Detectives have also investigated almost 2,000 pieces of intelligence, including information from the public.
The Police Commitment
Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said that despite not being able to locate Mr. Freeman so far, officers were not giving up. He reaffirmed the police commitment to doing everything possible to locate Mr. Freeman, using every available resource and necessary capability. The police will maintain their presence around the national park and local area, and will continue to conduct targeted searches based on intelligence. Mr. O’Brien said that the police were determined to see the investigation through to resolution.
The Reward and Next Steps
A $1 million reward still remains for any information that leads to the arrest of Mr. Freeman, the largest arrest reward in Victorian history. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward, and are committed to following up on every lead. The search for Mr. Freeman will continue, with the police using every available resource to locate him. The investigation is ongoing, and the police will provide updates as more information becomes available. The community is being reassured that the police are doing everything possible to bring Mr. Freeman to justice.