Dezi Freeman: Fugitive Manhunt, Death, and Associate Arrests

Victoria Police have arrested a man and a woman as part of an ongoing investigation into the movements of Dezi Freeman, a fugitive who was shot dead by police on March 30, 2026.

The two individuals were arrested at approximately 7:00 a.m. On April 4, 2026, at two separate properties located in north-east Victoria. Victoria Police confirmed that the pair are associates of Freeman and are not members of his family.

Following their arrests, the man and woman were interviewed by detectives from Taskforce Summit and subsequently released pending further enquiries.

Investigation into Freeman’s Movements

The arrests are part of a broader police effort to determine how Freeman managed to evade capture for several months and whether he received assistance while on the run.

Freeman had been a fugitive since August 26, 2025, following a shooting at his property in Porepunkah, in north-east Victoria. During that incident, police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart were killed while attempting to execute a warrant. A third officer was injured during the attack.

Freeman, described as a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, fled into the bushland of Mount Buffalo National Park after the shooting. This triggered a manhunt involving hundreds of officers, with support from interstate police forces, the Australian Defence Force, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

The scale of the operation was described as unprecedented in Australian history, and authorities offered a A$1 million reward for information leading to his arrest, the largest reward ever offered in the history of Victoria.

The Thologolong Standoff

The manhunt ended on March 30, 2026, at a property in Thologolong, located more than 150 kilometres from Freeman’s home in Porepunkah. Freeman had been on the run for 216 days.

Police surrounded Freeman inside a shipping container, leading to a stand-off that lasted three hours. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that Freeman was given every opportunity to resolve [the situation] peacefully.

Freeman eventually exited the container wrapped in a blanket and holding a firearm. Detectives later confirmed that the weapon was a firearm taken from one of the officers killed in the August 2025 shooting.

Up to eight officers from the Special Operations Group of the Victoria Police fired their weapons, resulting in Freeman’s death.

Police officials have stated that the investigation into Freeman’s associates remains ongoing and they are currently unable to provide further details regarding the arrested pair.