Police have descended on a shed a short distance from Porepunkah as the search for fugitive Dezi Freeman enters its ninth day.
On Wednesday, a police helicopter circled the national park that borders Freeman’s property in Victoria’s north, with Special Operations Group officers walking through the dense bushland below the chopper.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush and Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly are expected to speak to the media about the search at 1.30pm on Wednesday.
The search has stretched for kilometres away from Freeman’s Porepunkah property, with officers paying particular attention to a shed, The Daily Mail reports.
Well into the second week of the search for the self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” who is accused of fatally shooting two police officers, police spoke to residents and knocked on doors across the semirural area of Victoria.
Heavily armed officers and sniffer dogs swarmed properties in a residential area of Buckland, near Porepunkah, with more officers expected to take to the ground in coming days.
On Tuesday night, officers with torches ascended a neighbouring hill from the Porepunkah property.
Hampered by severe alpine weather last week, blue skies and sunshine are greeting the hundreds of police officers on the ground on Wednesday.
Camera IconA police van in the town of Bright has been set up for community engagement. NewsWire/ Jason Edwards Credit: Supplied
In casual conversations, police are becoming increasingly conscious of the huge cost to house hundreds of officers in Porepunkah and the neighbouring towns.
Superintendent Brett Kahan said on Monday at least one person could be helping Freeman evade capture.
“People know the whereabouts of the person who has killed two cops, people have chosen, for whatever reason, not to come forward,” Superintendent Kahan said.
“I’m taking this time to appeal to you to come forward in that respect.
“Last time I spoke in front of you, I appealed directly to Dezi Freeman to ring triple-0 and then we could work towards a surrender plan with him.”
Beyond the theories of where Freeman may be or what he could do next, locals are chatting about the short-stay rental homes housing the squadrons of cops, some properties that fetch up to $3500 per week in the off-peak season.
People in Porepunkah and Bright are concerned that, because Freeman was not spotted amid blizzard conditions over the weekend, the pleasant spring weather that has developed would only help him stay hidden.
Camera IconDezi Freeman has been on the run since last Tuesday. Credit: Supplied
Despite the enormous manhunt for Freeman, there have been no confirmed sightings of the alleged gunman.
People have been urged to “avoid the area” as the manhunt continues, with warnings issued across the state’s High Country.
On Tuesday afternoon, the no-fly zone was extended again until 11.30pm on Thursday.
Camera IconMore officers are expected to hit the ground as part of the ongoing search. David Caird /NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
ADF sent in to assist search
Specialists from the Australian Defence Force have joined forces with the Victoria Police in the search for Freeman, who has been on the run since August 26.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the ADF would provide a “planning specialist” to the manhunt at the request of Victoria Police.
“We’re also providing some air surveillance assets, again after a request from the Victoria Police,” Mr Males told ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday.
“The Australian Defence Force will work with the Victoria Police as they request our assistance in terms of the particular assets and capabilities that we have to bring Dezi Freeman to justice.”
More to come
