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| Man charged as search for accused Porepunkah police killer Dezi Freeman enters sixth day | Man charged as search for accused Porepunkah police killer Dezi Freeman enters sixth day |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Police say there have been several reported sightings of fugitive suspect since he fled in dense bushland, though none have been confirmed | Police say there have been several reported sightings of fugitive suspect since he fled in dense bushland, though none have been confirmed |
| From Wieambilla to Porepunkah, violent ‘anti-government extremists’ are a growing threat | From Wieambilla to Porepunkah, violent ‘anti-government extremists’ are a growing threat |
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| A man from a town near where the alleged Porepunkah police killer Dezi Freeman vanished has been charged during the search for the fugitive, police say. | |
| Victoria police on Sunday said they had arrested a 61-year-old man in Bright just before 5pm on Friday. | Victoria police on Sunday said they had arrested a 61-year-old man in Bright just before 5pm on Friday. |
| Police seized weapons and “a quantity of cannabis” from the house they found him in, they alleged. | Police seized weapons and “a quantity of cannabis” from the house they found him in, they alleged. |
| The man was charged with possessing an imitation firearm and possessing cannabis. | The man was charged with possessing an imitation firearm and possessing cannabis. |
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| He was bailed to appear before Myrtleford magistrates court on 3 October, police said. | He was bailed to appear before Myrtleford magistrates court on 3 October, police said. |
| Police said whether the Bright man was associated with Freeman “forms part of the ongoing investigation” into the fugitive accused of killing two police officers. | Police said whether the Bright man was associated with Freeman “forms part of the ongoing investigation” into the fugitive accused of killing two police officers. |
| The search for Freeman on Sunday dragged into its sixth day with hundreds of police continuing to scour Victoria’s high country wilderness. | The search for Freeman on Sunday dragged into its sixth day with hundreds of police continuing to scour Victoria’s high country wilderness. |
| Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, fled into the bush on Tuesday after a fatal confrontation at a property in Porepunkah, about 300km north-east of Melbourne. | Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, fled into the bush on Tuesday after a fatal confrontation at a property in Porepunkah, about 300km north-east of Melbourne. |
| He is accused of killing Det Leading Sen Const Neal Thompson, 59, and Sen Const Vadim De Waart, 35. | He is accused of killing Det Leading Sen Const Neal Thompson, 59, and Sen Const Vadim De Waart, 35. |
| Tough conditions have affected search efforts, with blizzard-like conditions and lashings of rain battering the rural town. | Tough conditions have affected search efforts, with blizzard-like conditions and lashings of rain battering the rural town. |
| More than 450 police officers have been deployed to Porepunkah as part of the search, which has included examining disused mines, caves and dugouts in and around the rural community. | More than 450 police officers have been deployed to Porepunkah as part of the search, which has included examining disused mines, caves and dugouts in and around the rural community. |
| Police say they have received several reported sightings of Freeman since he went on the run, though none have been confirmed. | Police say they have received several reported sightings of Freeman since he went on the run, though none have been confirmed. |
| “There have been alleged sightings which we’re exploring,” said Victoria police’s chief commissioner, Mike Bush. | “There have been alleged sightings which we’re exploring,” said Victoria police’s chief commissioner, Mike Bush. |
| “We can’t confirm that they are of him but if you think you see him, let us know. We’ll explore it.” | “We can’t confirm that they are of him but if you think you see him, let us know. We’ll explore it.” |
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| A police forward command post was relocated on Saturday from Feathertop Winery just outside Porepunkah to a government office in the town of Ovens, about 12km away. | A police forward command post was relocated on Saturday from Feathertop Winery just outside Porepunkah to a government office in the town of Ovens, about 12km away. |
| “The new site is a fit-for-purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,” the force said. | “The new site is a fit-for-purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,” the force said. |
| “We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area.” | “We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area.” |
| On Thursday night Freeman’s 42-year-old wife and a 15-year-old boy were arrested during a raid at a Porepunkah address. They were interviewed and released. | On Thursday night Freeman’s 42-year-old wife and a 15-year-old boy were arrested during a raid at a Porepunkah address. They were interviewed and released. |
| “There may or may not be charges that follow,” Bush said. | “There may or may not be charges that follow,” Bush said. |
| Police helicopters and drones have been circling the area for days in the hope of catching a sign of the fugitive’s whereabouts. | Police helicopters and drones have been circling the area for days in the hope of catching a sign of the fugitive’s whereabouts. |
| Freeman, who has bush survival experience, was last seen in dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, Blundstone boots and reading glasses, police said. | Freeman, who has bush survival experience, was last seen in dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, Blundstone boots and reading glasses, police said. |
| He is believed to be a “sovereign citizen”, a follower of a pseudo-legal ideology that rejects government authority and the rule of law. | He is believed to be a “sovereign citizen”, a follower of a pseudo-legal ideology that rejects government authority and the rule of law. |