Locals have disclosed that Dezi Freeman, suspected of killing police officers, might be utilizing deserted bush tunnels to evade arrest in Victoria’s secluded alpine wilderness.
The 56-year-old is accused of fatally shooting a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable ‘in cold blood’ following a failed arrest warrant at Freeman’s bush retreat in Porepunkah on Tuesday morning.
Freeman is well-known within the local community at the base of Mount Buffalo in Victoria’s north and is very familiar with the area, as revealed by the Daily Mail.
Porepunkah resident Mark Bartolic said Freeman was no stranger to the bush that he fled into after allegedly murdering the officers.
‘There are a lot of caves here and a lot of dugouts that have been (left) from the gold mining,’ he said.
‘I know caves. People know caves. I’m not even sure the police have looked under the tunnel that goes straight under Porepunkah here.
‘Because there is a deep tunnel here that goes straight underneath the road and I’m not even sure the police have gone and looked under there.’
Mr Bartolic said the surrounding wilderness was littered with caves where Freeman could be holed up.
A Special Operations Group officer prepares to enter the wilderness to take down Freeman
‘I know of two myself and I know there are more. A lot more,’ he added.
Mr Bartolic said the combination of the rugged terrain, bad weather and potential hiding spots put police in a difficult situation.
‘Very difficult. It’s got to be an experienced policeman, maybe even a tracker or something to do it, to do the job,’ he said.
Choking back tears, Mr Bartolic said he knew both of the slain police officers and their alleged killer.
‘Look, the guy (Freeman), I knew him and he was friendly … he seemed like a decent fellow,’ he said.
‘I know his son. I know where he works. He’s a lovely boy so I just don’t know what has happened. Someone just flipped out and just lost it.’
Mr Bartolic said Freeman could survive in the wilderness for as long as he wanted.
‘He knows the area. He’s a very experienced bushman and I think it will be very hard to find him,’ he said.
‘I think he could survive alone out there for weeks…I feel it’s going to linger for a while.’
Dezi Freeman has become Australia’s most wanted man after gunning down two police officers
Porepunkah resident Mark Bartolic fears Freeman will be difficult to locate
Mr Bartolic said the 59-year-old detective, who was nearing retirement, was well-known in the community.
‘He was always there for the community,’ he added. ‘He was always there at the local football.
You’d see him at the supermarket, he’d stop and have a chat about this and that. A lovely guy. A good man. A good, honest man.’
Mr Bartolic said the entire community remained stunned by the incident.
“I believe the entire community is in shock, especially since the two policemen won’t be returning home. It’s just devastating for their families,” a local stated.
‘Time will tell how it’s going to impact the town really, but I think everyone is still in shock and doesn’t really know how to handle it.’
On Wednesday, police removed the roadblock leading up to the gunman’s compound.
Situated down a bush track, a vehicle remained parked across the Freeman property’s front gate, blocking any access to the home.
The entrance to Freeman’s compound has been blocked by this red vehicle
Freeman lived on a bush track with views over one of Victoria’s most stunning alpine regions
The home of Dezi Freeman, where he gunned down multiple police officers
Residents are still receiving text alerts from Victoria Police instructing them to steer clear of the area as they approach the location on their mobile phones.
Residents in the area remain on high alert, with some reporters welcomed by residents with rifles slung around their shoulders.
The local school at Porepunkah remained closed on Wednesday.
‘I locked the door. I don’t usually lock the door,’ Mr Bartolic said. ‘But I locked the door today when I went out because my wife’s there.’
On Wednesday, a large number of police descended on Feathertop Winery near Porepunkah to set up a mobile command center.
Daily Mail observed heavily armed members of Victoria Police’s elite Special Operations Group preparing to enter the wilderness via a military-style chopper.
Police dogs are also helping to track down the elusive killer.
Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush told reporters on Wednesday he believed Freeman had escaped arrest uninjured after allegedly gunning down the officers.
Heavily armed Special Operations Group officers are tasked with bringing Freeman to justice
Armoured vehicles have joined the manhunt for Freeman
A police chopper was expected to fly the SOG team into the wilderness
‘I don’t believe he was wounded, but I do believe that we did discharge shots in his direction,’ he said.
The Commissioner added that he didn’t want to reveal too much information about how police were tracking Freeman.
‘I totally appreciate the question, and people have a thirst for knowledge, but it’s very important that we don’t share too much information,’ he said.
‘We don’t know where he is or whether he has access to media, so we have to be very conscious of that, as to what we put in the public domain, other than general search techniques.
‘So I’m sure you’ll appreciate that. I have experience where people on the run will find a way to monitor the media and that would assist them in evading us.
‘So I’m not going to put too much in that domain.’
Anyone with information on Freeman’s whereabouts should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
