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Victoria Police is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of accused police killer Dezi Freeman, the largest bounty for an arrest in the state’s history.
More than 450 officers are searching the Victorian High Country for Freeman, who allegedly murdered two police officers and seriously injured another before fleeing into dense bushland on August 26.
Police are continuing their manhunt for fugitive Dezi Freeman.Credit: Marija Ercegovac
Freeman allegedly blasted Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, with a home-made shotgun through the door of a bus the sovereign citizen was living in near the township of Porepunkah.
The father of three then allegedly opened a window of the bus and shot Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35, who also died at the scene.
Another detective wounded in the attack is understood to have hidden under the bus for up to an hour, until paramedics arrived.
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A spokesman for Victoria Police said while there was nothing to indicate Freeman was being assisted by a specific person, there remained a possibility given the difficult terrain in the region.
“Police are also open to the possibilities that he remains at large alone or is dead as a result of self-harm,” the spokesman said.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, the head of the homicide squad, said he hoped the “life-changing” reward offer would encourage someone to come forward.
“While the offering of a reward for a murder investigation is not unusual in itself, what sets this apart is that this reward is for arrest and not conviction – and it is the largest reward ever offered for an arrest in Victoria,” he said.
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“We believe this investigation will only be brought to resolution through assistance from members of the public and again, I am urging anyone with any information at all to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.”
Freeman was last seen wearing dark khaki tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses.
Police believe Freeman remains armed and urged members of the public not to approach him.
Thomas said it was vital that members of the public called triple zero if they saw Freeman.
“This could be sightings of Freeman, information you’re hearing in your local communities, even suspicious activity on your property – whatever it is, we want you to tell us,” he said.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, the head of the homicide squad.Credit: Wayne Taylor
“Freeman has killed two people and injured a third, and it’s immensely important that we can bring him into custody safely as soon as possible – hopefully this reward helps do just that.”
On Sunday, Freeman’s wife, Mali Freeman, urged her husband to surrender, in a statement through her lawyer, which implored anyone harbouring him to contact police.
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