Police investigation into Dezi Freeman's fugitive period and arrests linked to his support network
Consensus Summary
Police in Victoria and New South Wales have arrested two men as part of an ongoing investigation into Dezi Freeman’s seven-month fugitive period after he killed two Victoria Police officers, Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, during a search warrant operation in Porepunkah on August 26, 2025. Freeman, who was 56 and associated with pseudolaw or sovereign citizen ideology, was later shot and killed by police on March 30, 2026, at a property in Thologolong near the state border. Taskforce Summit executed seven warrants across Victoria and NSW on June 16, 2026, searching properties in Buckland, Stanley, Lucyvale, and four NSW locations, including Greenwich Park, Tarlo, Wombeyan Caves, and Umina Beach. A 64-year-old man from Lucyvale was arrested in Wodonga and released pending further investigation, while a 47-year-old man from Wombeyan Caves was arrested on unrelated warrants. Police believe Freeman traveled between states and received assistance from multiple individuals, seizing electronic devices during searches. Two previous arrests in May 2026 resulted in no charges, and authorities continue to seek information about Freeman’s movements to hold accountable those who may have aided him.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Dezi Freeman killed Victoria Police officers Neal Thompson (59) and Vadim de Waart-Hottart (35) in Porepunkah, Victoria, on August 26, 2025, during a search warrant operation.
- Freeman was shot and killed by police on March 30, 2026, during a confrontation at a rural property in Thologolong, near the Victoria-New South Wales border.
- Police executed seven warrants at properties across Victoria and New South Wales on June 16, 2026, arresting two men in connection with Freeman’s fugitive period.
- Warrants were served at rural properties in Buckland and Stanley (Victoria) and Lucyvale (Victoria), as well as four NSW properties in Greenwich Park, Tarlo, Wombeyan Caves (near Goulburn), and Umina Beach (Central Coast).
- A 64-year-old man from Lucyvale was arrested in Wodonga and later released pending further investigation.
- A 47-year-old man from Wombeyan Caves was arrested in Greenwich Park on unrelated outstanding warrants.
- Victoria Police’s Taskforce Summit is investigating Freeman’s movements as a fugitive between August 2025 and March 2026, believing he traveled between Victoria and NSW and received assistance from multiple people.
- Two men were previously arrested in May 2026 and released without charge as part of the investigation.
- Police seized a range of electronic devices during searches of the seven properties on June 16, 2026.
- Detective Inspector Anthony Gasparini stated police are seeking to identify and hold accountable those who supported Freeman as a fugitive, potentially committing serious offenses.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Dezi Freeman is described as a 'police killer' in the ABC article.
- The ABC article mentions Freeman had a history of association with 'pseudolaw or sovereign citizen ideology' (also noted in Guardian but not emphasized as prominently).
- The ABC article includes a quote from a police spokesperson: 'Detectives believe he travelled between Victoria and NSW and received assistance from a number of different people during that time.'
- The ABC article specifies Freeman was 56 years old at the time of his death.
- The ABC article notes Freeman injured a third officer during the Porepunkah shootings.
- The ABC article mentions the coronial investigation as part of the police response.
- The Guardian article provides additional context about the search warrant operation, stating Freeman was part of a group of 10 police (local officers and members of the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team) who entered the property.
- The Guardian article explicitly states Freeman fled into the bush 'heavily armed' after the shootings, triggering a high-profile manhunt.
- The Guardian article includes a direct quote from Detective Inspector Gasparini: 'We said from the outset that if alive, Freeman would likely need significant support to leave the area and survive over the following months.'
- The Guardian article urges anyone with information about Freeman’s movements to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC article describes Freeman as a 'police killer,' while the Guardian does not use that specific phrasing, instead focusing on his actions as a fugitive.
Source Articles
Two men arrested by Dezi Freeman investigators
Police executed seven warrants at properties across Victoria and New South Wales this morning.
Two arrested during investigation into Dezi Freeman’s movements as police reveal killer likely travelled to NSW
Victoria and NSW police search seven properties as they examine where shooter travelled after killing two officers in Porepunkah Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Two more men have been arrested as police continue their investigation into Porepunkah shooter Dezi Freeman’s months on the run after he killed two police officers in August 2025. In a statement on Tuesday, police also revealed they believed Freeman trave