Determined to capture Australia’s most elusive fugitive, Dezi Freeman, the police have intensified their efforts as Mount Buffalo National Park reopens to visitors.
Victoria Police have activated Taskforce Summit with the goal of apprehending Freeman, who became a fugitive after allegedly shooting and killing two police officers at his Porepunkah property in Victoria’s highlands on August 26.
Freeman has remained out of sight since the tragic event, where officers Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Neal Thompson were fatally shot while executing a search warrant on his premises.
The alleged double homicide triggered a widespread manhunt, with law enforcement combing the dense bushland surrounding Freeman’s remote retreat near Mount Buffalo.
This newly formed taskforce, comprising some of Victoria Police’s elite units, will operate from the Great Alpine area.
The taskforce is led by a detective inspector from the Victoria Police Crime Command’s State Anti-Gangs Division and includes specialized personnel from the Fugitive Squad and the Armed Crime Squad.
VIPER Taskforce, Special Operations Group, Search and Rescue Squad, and local ‘Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems’ members have also joined the taskforce.
The Homicide Squad will continue to investigate the murders of Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart-Hottart.
Dezi Freeman went on the run after he allegedly shot dead two police officers on August 26
Hundreds of Victoria Police officers and specialist cops from across Australia and New Zealand have been tirelessly searching for Freeman in Porepunkah and the surrounding areas since August 26
A specialist police member carries his combat dog over a river
Public Order Response Team officers remain embedded in the Bright and Myrtleford police stations which has increased local patrols and enhanced police numbers in the area as the search continues.
The heart of the Freeman manhunt investigation at the Ovens Incident Police Operations Centre and the Police Forward Command Post, which have operated for the past eight weeks, will transition into the taskforce.
Hundreds of Victoria Police officers and specialist cops from across Australia and New Zealand have been tirelessly searching for Freeman in Porepunkah and the surrounding areas since August 26.
This has included extensive searches of Mount Buffalo National Park by heavily-armed specialist cops supported by combat dogs and the police Air Wing.
Police announced the national park will fully reopen to the public today.
According to Victoria Police, detectives have investigated more than 1700 ‘pieces of intelligence’ including information received from the public.
Victoria Police will continue to maintain an enhanced presence in the area.
But despite the extensive searches and enquiries, police have not located Freeman.
Senior Constable Neal Thompson was shot and killed
Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart was murdered by Freeman
Freeman has been hunted through Mount Buffalo National Park by heavily-armed specialist cops
Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said the ‘investigation is far from over’.
‘Victoria Police remains committed to using every available resource and the necessary capabilities to find Freeman,’ Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.
‘However, we do believe it will only be brought to resolution through assistance from members of the public. I strongly urge anyone with any information at all, no matter how small you think it may be, to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.
‘This could be sightings of Freeman, information you’re hearing in your local communities, even suspicious activity on your property.
‘Whatever it is, we want to hear from you. As always, this can be done anonymously.
‘It has been an extremely challenging investigation but are we incredibly determined to see this to resolution.’
Police checked waterways for the fugitive
A $1million dollar bounty remains in place for any information that leads to the capture of Freeman but police have advised the public not to approach the suspected armed fugitive.
News of the taskforce comes after the Daily Mail revealed officers involved in the initial search for Freeman in the wilderness have been told by force command they believe the fugitive escaped the initial police dragnet.
‘He got away. The belief is he somehow escaped and is now holed up safely across the border,’ a source said.
While it remains unclear what state police believe Freeman may be hiding in, it has long been feared he received help from supporters in the days and weeks following the tragedy.
The search for Freeman continues
The revelations follow Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush’s claims a week ago that they remained in the dark about what happened to Freeman.
‘Is he still alive? We don’t know. Is he alive and still in the area? We have no real information to suggest that,’ he said.
‘Or has he been unable to leave the area and is being looked after by others?
‘We don’t know – all of those are assumptions, possibilities, and we plan a resource for those three.’
Full details of the reopening of Mount Buffalo are available on the Parks Victoria website while PV staff will also patrol the park.
Anyone with any information on Freeman’s location, or anything the community notices at the Mount Buffalo National Park should be reported to Crime Stoppers Victoria via 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
