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A 61-year-old man has been detained and questioned by detectives in relation to the search for a dangerous fugitive suspected of killing two police officers.
The search for the alleged gunman, Dezi Freeman, has continued into its fifth day as police conduct a massive operation in Victoria’s high country wilderness, battling strong winds and cold weather conditions.
Freeman, 56, fled into the bush on Tuesday following a deadly ambush at his property in Porepunkah, about 300km north-east of Melbourne.
Victoria Police confirmed that a man was arrested at a property in Bright, about 6km from Porepunkah on Friday afternoon.
The arrest follows the execution of a search warrant, where which guns and cannabis were seized from the home.
The man was being interviewed by investigators on Saturday afternoon.
When queried about any connections between the arrested man and Freeman, a Victoria Police spokesperson indicated that this topic would be explored during the detectives’ interview.
Freeman is charged with the fatal shootings of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35. The officers will be honored at separate funeral services next week.
The massive manhunt for alleged gunman Dezi Freeman in Victoria’s high country entered its fifth day on Saturday
A 61-year-old man was taken into custody in the nearby town of Bright on Friday by detectives involved in the investigation of Dezi Freeman’s whereabouts. The ongoing manhunt is shown in the picture.
Tough conditions have impacted search efforts in recent days with thunderstorms, lashings of rain and hail battering the rural town.
Temperatures plunged below 6C early Saturday, with wind gusts of more than 60km/h in Porepunkah after blizzard-like conditions.
Snow was predicted down to levels of 700m.
Over 450 police officers have been mobilized to Porepunkah as a part of the extensive search, which involves checking abandoned mines, caves, and hideouts in and around the rural locale.
Victoria Police issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, saying it would be relocating its forward command post from Feathertop Winery just outside Porepunkah to a government office in the town of Ovens, about 12km away.
‘The new site is a fit-for-purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,’ the statement said.
‘We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area.’
Freeman’s 42-year-old wife Mali and 15-year-old son were arrested on Thursday night following an operation at an address in Porepunkah before they were interviewed and released, pending further inquiries.
More than 450 police officers have been deployed as part of the search effort (pictured, officers in the Victorian high country)
Freeman (pictured right, next to partner, Mali) is accused of fatally shooting two police officers in Porepunkah
‘There may or may not be charges that follow,’ Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said.
Police helicopters and drones have been circling the area for days in the hope of catching a sign of the fugitive’s whereabouts.
Freeman, who has bush survival experience, was last seen in dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, Blundstone boots and reading glasses.
Meanwhile Detective Thompson and Sen Const De Waart will be farewelled with full honours next week at Melbourne’s Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley.
Hundreds of police scoured Victoria’s high country wilderness amid strong winds and chilly conditions
Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, (left) and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, (right) will be farwelled next week
Sen Const De Waart’s service will take place on September 5. Det Sen Const Thompson’s will be on September 8.
The pair were killed while serving a warrant on Freeman for alleged child sex offences.
A third officer who was shot in the thigh remains in hospital.
