Tactical officers today widened their search for the alleged gunman, closing in on a property in the neighbouring town of Myrtleford.
A property in Bright was also raided last night, where a 61-year-old man was arrested over drug and weapon offences.
Tactical officers today widened their search for the alleged gunman, closing in on a property in the neighbouring town of Myrtleford. (Nine)
He claims to not know Freeman personally, but admits they were in online groups together.
With at least 450 police resources now on the ground in the small Victorian town, Victoria Police has been forced to move its forward command post.
Previously stationed at Feathertop Winery in Porepunkah, authorities are now using government buildings in nearby Ovens to direct operations as rain, wind and freezing temperatures hit the state.
“The new site is a fit-for-purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Police are yet to confirm any sightings of Freeman since Tuesday’s ambush. (Nine)
“We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area.
“Locals and visitors to the area will still see police activity in and around the Porepunkah and Alpine communities.”
Police trying to get inside the mind of accused killer
Criminologist Vincent Hurley said Freeman could remain at large for a number of days, as he has the advantage of hiding in an area he knows well.
Hurley said the thing that would weigh on him physically is not being able to rest.
Criminologist Doctor Vincent Hurley. (Nine)
“It’s his backyard, the thing that’s going against him will be the weather and whether he’s got anything out there, like ammunition stashed away, food or extra clothing,” Hurley said.
“The weather conditions will wear him down physically as well as psychologically, he’ll be out there there having no rest, he’ll always be on edge, thinking that the police are watching him and will find him.”
“The police got the advantage at this point in time.”
More than 450 police officers from across the country are involved in the search for Freeman, five days after he allegedly ambushed and killed two Victoria Police officers.
An accused gunman Dezi Freeman. (Nine)
His 15-year-old son and wife are in police custody, with Hurley saying police would be speaking to them to try and figure out Freeman’s mindset.
“They would be trying to gather information from those two about the firearm capacity that he might have, his state of mind, what actually triggered this event,” Hurley said.
“They will be trying to work out all those logistical things behind the scenes, and that information will be passed on to the negotiators to get an understanding.
“He’s a sovereign citizen, he’s a right-wing extremist…that group of individuals are very much anti-police, so they’ll be trying to work out his frame of mind.
More than 450 police officers from across the country are involved in the search for Freeman. (Nine)
“It appeared to be a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
Freeman allegedly fatally shot Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Constable Vadim De Waart on Tuesday morning at a home in Porepunkah.
A third officer was allegedly shot and wounded in the leg and is recovering in hospital.
Freeman is a self-described “sovereign citizen” who is known to police.
Hurley said police appealing to Freeman in a public press conference “gives him an out” if he wants to turn himself in.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart composite
(Victoria Police)
“He will know that there are options available to him; he is not being boxed in, which will play on his mind,” he said.
“He will have to have options in his mind about what lies ahead in the future… my gut feeling is that he won’t come out of his own free will because he’s allegedly murdered two people, nearly a third.”
“I don’t think it’s going to end well.”
