Police say fugitive wanted in killings of two officers is being aided by community members
Manhunt for Dezi Freeman enters seventh day after he fled a search at his Porepunkah property; police warn aiding him is a serious crime
Victoria police said on Monday that some members of the local community are helping a fugitive wanted over the killings of two officers, as a manhunt for the suspect entered its seventh day.
Dezi Freeman, 56, is accused of killing two police officers after officers executed a search warrant at his property in the small rural town of Porepunkah, in Victoria, last Tuesday. Police said Freeman escaped into thick bushland bordering the property and has not been sighted since.
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Victoria Police Superintendent Brett Kahan said investigators believe people in the area know Freeman’s whereabouts. "People know the whereabouts of the person who has killed two cops," he said, urging anyone assisting Freeman to cease doing so and to contact police. Authorities warned that harbouring or assisting Freeman would amount to an extremely serious criminal offence.
Police said the search warrant executed at Freeman’s property related to a sex crimes investigation. Freeman, who has drawn attention for espousing conspiracy theories and a reportedly well-documented hostility to authority, fled at the time officers arrived and has remained at large despite extensive searches.
Amalia Freeman, identified as his wife, earlier urged her husband to turn himself in and offered condolences to the families of the slain officers. Victoria Police have previously appealed publicly for Freeman to surrender and reiterated the request on Monday as search efforts continued.
The manhunt has focused on dense bushland surrounding the property and on following up community leads. Police did not provide details about the officers who were killed or any new sightings of Freeman. Authorities also did not specify whether anyone had been arrested in connection with harbouring or assisting the suspect.
The killings and the subsequent pursuit have prompted a significant police response and heightened concern in the local community. Victoria Police asked anyone with information about Freeman’s whereabouts or who has been contacted by or is sheltering him to come forward and to report the information to police immediately. The investigation remains active.