Porepunkah shooting: Two officers dead and another wounded after shooting at High Country property, Victoria, Australia

[drsleuth]

Hunt for accused cop killer enters third day


Porepunkah suspect's name change
By Adam Vidler06:29
Police are now referring to "Dezi Freeman" as Desmond Filby, as they continue the hunt for the suspect.
In their latest update, they said he is "also known as Desmond Freeman".
Filby has been reported to be a "sovereign citizen", who has an adversarial relationship with Australian legal and social structures.

Alert remains in place for Porepunkah
By Adam Vidler06:21
Porepunkah residents are facing another day inside as the search for Freeman continues.
"People in Porepunkah and surrounding townships can expect to see a lot of police activity in and around their community," Victoria Police said in their latest update yesterday.
"The emergency alert sent out to people in the local Porepunkah area this morning, urging them to stay indoors, remains active."

Melbourne lights up in blue for slain police
By 9News Staff05:17
Melbourne landmarks were lit up in blue overnight in tribute to slain police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart.
Flinders Street Station was among the public buildings thus illuminated.

 

[drsleuth]

6.14am

Manhunt for Freeman continues​

By​

Victoria Police spokesman Paul Hogan has provided an update on the ongoing manhunt for Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Philby.

There have been no sightings of the suspect, Hogan told 3AW Melbourne radio, since officers spotted him fleeing into bushland on Tuesday morning.

The sign of the edge of the property where Dezi Freeman lived.Credit: Joe Armao

Hogan said the following teams had been deployed:

Homicide squad
Armed Crime squad
Fugitive squad
Special Operations Group
Critical Incident Response Team

He said all units remained active in the area.

We’ll bring you more updates as they come.

Porepunkah police shooting LIVE: Victoria police provide update on search for ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman as thick brush around Mount Buffalo hampers progress

Alleged gunman Dezi Freeman remains on the run, heavily armed and with nothing to lose as tributes flow for the two officers shot and killed in Porepunkah. Follow our live coverage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Marg944]

Looking a wee bit frosty there this morning:-

 

[MrJ]

I hope he is found today.

 

[Marg944]

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/porepunkah-gunman-manhunt-continues-as-fallen-police-officers-identified/news-story/148c607e81418d083118c86c7e2ed283?amp

Paywalled

 

[Marg944]

Bush siege underway as major manhunt for Dezi Freeman continues after Porepunkah police shootings​

“Police dogs described as “land sharks” have joined the hunt for double cop killer Dezi Freeman as officers play the waiting game to catch the gunman as he hides out amid freezing conditions.

Chief Commissioner Mike Bush vowed to catch Dezi Freeman, as Special Operations Group officers circled the self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen”, waiting for his resolve to weaken.

It emerged the 56-year-old who murdered two police and injured a third on Tuesday morning had motion cameras set up at his Porepunkah property to alert him to intruders.


But foul weather is set to sweep the state in the coming days.

One local said conditions on Tuesday night – Freeman’s first on the run – were already bad enough.”

“He would have done it tough, it rained all night, the chairs blew off the veranda,” he said.


“F--- him, I hope he freezes.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/major-manhunt-for-accused-double-cop-killer-dezi-freeman-continues-on-wednesday-around-porepunkah/live-coverage/22e64ea9be5f5e24df3452f59ede3d53

 

[Marg944]

7.02am

Police continue to battle wintry conditions​

​

“At his press conference yesterday morning, Victoria Police’s Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said winter weather conditions in the Porepunkah area would made the search for Dezi Freeman “tough going” for police.

Up to 27 millimetres of rain is predicted today for the area, while temperatures won’t rise above nine degrees.


It’s expected to be similar tomorrow.”

Porepunkah police shooting LIVE: Victoria police provide update on search for ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman as thick brush around Mount Buffalo hampers progress

Alleged gunman Dezi Freeman remains on the run, heavily armed and with nothing to lose as tributes flow for the two officers shot and killed in Porepunkah. Follow our live coverage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

 

[Marg944]

Alpine council seeks mental health support for local community​

​

The Victorian Government is being asked to fund urgent mental health support for residents of Porepunkah who’ve been on edge since Tuesday, with a gunman on the loose.

Victoria Police has advised residents of Porepunkah to remain indoors while the search continues for accused police killer Dezi Freeman.

In a post to Facebook Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas urged residents to follow police instructions, including limiting travel.

“We know this event has had a significant emotional impact particularly on our younger community members and their parents and carers, many of whom experienced lockdowns,” she says.

“Council is actively seeking urgent support from the state government to help address the mental health and long-term well being needs of our community.”

Cr Nicholas says council facilities including libraries and service centres will reopen today at Myrtleford and Mount Beauty, but they’ll remain closed at Bright and Porepunkah.

If you are in need or feel impacted by this unfolding incident you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Live: 'If Dezi Freeman is watching this, ring triple-0': Police offer surrender plan

The suspected gunman — 56-year-old Porepunkah man Dezi Freeman — has been on the run since Tuesday after entering alpine bushland on foot, and is believed to be heavily armed.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

 

[Marg944]

Live: 'If Dezi Freeman is watching this, ring triple-0': Police offer surrender plan

The suspected gunman — 56-year-old Porepunkah man Dezi Freeman — has been on the run since Tuesday after entering alpine bushland on foot, and is believed to be heavily armed.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
6m ago

Victoria Police mourn two of their own​

By Judd Boaz​

On Wednesday, Victoria Police revealed the identities of the two men shot dead in Porepunkah.

Vadim De Waart had been with the force for seven years and was on a temporary assignment in Wangaratta at the time of the shooting.

His colleague, Neal Thompson, was a 38-year veteran of the force and was nearing retirement prior to his death.

Detective Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart are the first Victoria Police officers to die on duty in more than three years, according to the Victoria Police Honour Roll.

Vadim De Waart and Neal Thompson (Supplied: Victoria Police )

Live: No sightings of alleged Porepunkah gunman as manhunt enters day three

The suspected gunman — 56-year-old Porepunkah man Dezi Freeman — has been on the run since Tuesday after entering alpine bushland on foot, and is believed to be heavily armed.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
Just now

Cold and wet conditions in Porepunkah​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

ABC reporter Leanne Wong says conditions aren't going to get any easier for Victoria Police today.

"It is bitterly cold, it's been pouring rain for hours now, it's muddy, it's slippery," she says

"Chief Commissoner Mike Bush has said that police aren't exactly sure where Mr Freeman is but there is nothing to suggest that he has left this local area."

Wong is at the command centre near Porepunkah where police have set up a staging unit.

She says there's several hundreds of officer's [sic] searching for Mr Freeman who has been on the run since Tuesday.

Live: 'If Dezi Freeman is watching this, ring triple-0': Police offer surrender plan

The suspected gunman — 56-year-old Porepunkah man Dezi Freeman — has been on the run since Tuesday after entering alpine bushland on foot, and is believed to be heavily armed.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Marg944]

7.18am

‘It’s pretty tough for everyone’: Porepunkah business owner​

​

It’s likely that few people appreciate just how strange and troubling life is in Porepunkah right now more than Janelle Marsden.

Marsden is the co-owner of Feathertop Winery - where police and media have based themselves - and the Porepunkah pub, which remains closed as police continue to tell residents to shelter indoors.



“Thanks for the literally hundreds of messages and calls,” Marsden wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. “I don’t have capacity to reply atm- as you have most likely seen we are hosting the control centre at the winery so we are very safe and super proud to be helping in our little own way.”

Marsden told The Age the winery was doing everything it could to support police, who seemed happy with the conditions.

“Residents are still in lockdown, so it’s pretty tough for everyone,” she said.

“When this is all over, we will be there for a meal, beers and hugs,” wrote one resident in the comments on a Porepunkah Pub post.

Porepunkah police shooting LIVE: Victoria police provide update on search for ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman as thick brush around Mount Buffalo hampers progress

Alleged gunman Dezi Freeman remains on the run, heavily armed and with nothing to lose as tributes flow for the two officers shot and killed in Porepunkah. Follow our live coverage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Marg944]

7.38am

Roadblock lifted, police largely stationed at winery now​

​

“A roadblock where police operations for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman were focused on into Wednesday evening has been lifted.

Police and authorities are now largely stationed at a makeshift command centre at the nearby Feathertop Winery where they are bracing for another day of searching for the heavily armed 56-year-old in wet, rainy conditions and dense, vast bushland.”

Porepunkah police shooting LIVE: Victoria police provide update on search for ‘sovereign citizen’ Dezi Freeman as thick brush around Mount Buffalo hampers progress

Alleged gunman Dezi Freeman remains on the run, heavily armed and with nothing to lose as tributes flow for the two officers shot and killed in Porepunkah. Follow our live coverage.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Trooper]

Tough times ....... I am not that convinced that Freeman is a 'survivalist'... maybe with the help and invaluable assistance of his wife, he's been able to muddle along, unable to follow simple laws and constantly falling foul of those nice chaps at Myrtleford Police station .. .. and they are nice , I've been educated by them myself back in the days of weekend skiing at Hotham.

I am just not convinced that he can last out there, alone. Malcom Naden did but Malcolm was no Sov Cit ningnong, he was just a plain killer, with the cunning of a rat, Dezi doesn't seem too bright , to me.

 

[Trooper]

Am I right in my understanding that we don't know what disability he has? He says he is a disabled pensioner, I was presuming it was not a physical disability but perhaps a nervous sort, a man beset with anxiety , or even on some sort of spectrum of intellectual handicap, ... any of these would be a real bar to him lasting out in the foothills of the Great Divide, the wind sweeps down from Dinner Plain relentlessly and they say the last snow of the season is the heaviest..!!

https://www.mthotham.com.au/mountain/conditions/snow-cams

( this is only 60 klms east away ... thats 37 miles to the uninitiated)

Mt Buffalo is about the same , about 55 klms, south of Porepunkah, .. snowed quite a bit last night

Snow Cam's and Updates - Visit Mount Buffalo

Planning a winter trip to Mount Buffalo, click the links below to see the regular snow updates from our snow cameras.

visitmountbuffalo.com.au

 

[Trooper]

'''Police say Mr Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, was last seen wearing dark green or khaki tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, brown boots and reading glasses.''''

not exactly equipped for romping thru the bush around Porepunkah. in 3 degreees celsius..., it does not sound to me like he was planning on holing up in the bush for months, dressed like that.... maybe he has clothing stashed somewhere. Somewhere dry. Maybe he has a car stashed , full of petrol , with maps and lots of cash .. but I don't think so. To me, it sounds like this was all done in a hurry.,

Hope he has gloves, at least, and some sort of head covering., .... the reading glasses don't sound too impressive.......

 

[drsleuth]

Am I right in my understanding that we don't know what disability he has? He says he is a disabled pensioner, I was presuming it was not a physical disability but perhaps a nervous sort, a man beset with anxiety , or even on some sort of spectrum of intellectual handicap, ... any of these would be a real bar to him lasting out in the foothills of the Great Divide, the wind sweeps down from Dinner Plain relentlessly and they say the last snow of the season is the heaviest..!!

https://www.mthotham.com.au/mountain/conditions/snow-cams

( this is only 60 klms east away ... thats 37 miles to the uninitiated)

Mt Buffalo is about the same , about 55 klms, south of Porepunkah, .. snowed quite a bit last night

Snow Cam's and Updates - Visit Mount Buffalo

Planning a winter trip to Mount Buffalo, click the links below to see the regular snow updates from our snow cameras.

visitmountbuffalo.com.au

Maybe this

The woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said she believed others who shared these views began to live at the Rayner Track property where Freeman allegedly shot the police officers, sparking a massive manhunt.

She described those living at the property as a “squatting” or homesteading arrangement focused on self-sufficient living. Freeman was living in a bus at the site.

She said Freeman also believed he had been mistreated by police, including during an arrest, where he claimed he had been left with spinal injuries.

“There is a feud going on with the authorities and him, and this is how it’s played out,” the woman said.

“There’s a lot of people now joining their own little communities because they’re finding their tribe.

“I can see why, based on what happened during COVID, and I know that they’ve actively been involved in the protests and stuff like that. So yeah, that’s led them to remove themselves from society.”

The descent of Dezi Freeman is warning of wider perils

Sovereign citizens came to the fore during the pandemic. It was thought they might fade away. Experts fear the opposite.

www.theage.com.au

BBM :