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A renewed search effort is set to commence today in Mount Buffalo National Park, located near Porepunkah. Authorities are concentrating their efforts on the area where the fugitive was last reported to be seen.
This operation comes as a continuation of a previous search conducted last December, which also targeted sections of the national park. The current search will extend into adjacent areas that were not covered previously.
The search is part of a broader investigation led by the Wangaratta Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team. This investigation took a dangerous turn when a team of police officers, executing a search warrant on the suspect’s property, encountered violence. A third officer, who was seriously injured during this operation, is still in recovery.
The dedicated efforts of the police aim to bring closure to this case and ensure the safety of the community. The search in such a rugged and expansive location underscores the complexities and challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking down fugitives in remote areas.
This week’s search will focus on an area adjoining that of the December search.
Canine and drone units will be deployed, along with the services of a cadaver dog team from NSW Police.
Both this week’s search and last December’s are based on intelligence police received relating to a gunshot heard a short time after the Porepunkah shooting on the morning of August 26.
Police say there is no specific intelligence to suggest Freeman, a self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen”, is being assisted by somebody in the local community, but it remains a possibility.
A $1 million reward has been posted for information leading to his arrest – a first in Victorian history.
“This incident, which resulted in the deaths of Neal and Vadim, continues to have a significant impact on both Victoria Police and the Porepunkah community more broadly,” Detective Inspector Adam Tilley said.
“It remains our number one priority to locate Freeman and the extensive and systematic searches conducted over the past five months are testament to this.”
He said police remained conviced information from the community would be crucial to the case and urged anybody with any knowledge to come forward.
“This could be anything you have heard about Freeman’s actions on the day or the shooting or his current whereabouts, or anything you may have seen in the Mount Buffalo National Park area that you think is suspicious or could be connected to Freeman,” he said.
“If you do have any information, then I urge you to contact police or Crime Stoppers and as always, this can be done confidentially.”
Meanwhile, anybody who sees Freeman is urged not to approach him but to call Triple Zero immediately.
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