A fugitive named Dezi Freeman is reportedly being assisted by some individuals in the community of Porepunkah, located in Victoria, Australia. Freeman has been evading authorities since last Tuesday, when police attempted to execute a search warrant at his property in connection with a sex crimes investigation.
Freeman, 56 years old and known for his conspiracy theorist beliefs, escaped into the surrounding bushland. The manhunt for him has now extended into its seventh day, with no sightings reported thus far. His wife, Amalia Freeman, previously urged him to surrender and expressed condolences to the families of the two officers he is alleged to have killed.
Victoria Police have made appeals for Freeman to turn himself in but have faced challenges in locating him. Superintendent Brett Kahan acknowledged that individuals in the community are likely aware of Freeman’s whereabouts, stating that assisting him is a serious crime. However, he did not disclose how many people are suspected to be aiding Freeman or clarify whether they are from Porepunkah or nearby areas.
Police conducted a raid on another property in Porepunkah on Thursday night, resulting in the arrest and subsequent release of Amalia Freeman and a 15-year-old, but no further details have been provided. In a statement, Amalia Freeman affirmed that she and her children respect the work of the police and do not hold anti-authority sentiments.
The search efforts have involved heavily armed police, helicopters, and armored vehicles. The ongoing incident has reignited discussions regarding how authorities manage threats connected to conspiracy theorist movements, especially considering a similar incident involving police ambushes in Queensland three years ago. Prior to the raid, Victoria Police indicated that a thorough risk assessment had been completed, but specialist support was not requested.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzny0p0n9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss