Two Arrested in Dezi Freeman Probe

Victoria Police arrested a man and a woman at approximately 7 a.m. On April 4, 2026, as part of an ongoing investigation into the movements of Dezi Freeman. The arrests took place at two separate properties in the northeast of the state.

Detectives from Taskforce Summit conducted the operations to determine how Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, managed to evade authorities for more than 200 days. Police confirmed that the two individuals are associates of Freeman and are not members of his family.

The pair were interviewed by police and subsequently released pending further enquiries. A police spokesperson stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that authorities are not yet in a position to provide further details.

The Death of Dezi Freeman

The arrests follow the death of the 56-year-old fugitive on Monday, March 31, 2026. Freeman was shot dead by specialist police officers following a three-hour stand-off at an isolated property in Thologolong, near Walwa, on the Victoria-NSW border.

During the confrontation, officers surrounded a shipping container. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that Freeman was given every opportunity to resolve [the situation] peacefully, but did not take that option.

Freeman eventually emerged from the container wrapped in a blanket and holding a firearm. Detectives later confirmed the gun belonged to one of the police officers Freeman had killed the previous year. Up to eight officers from the Victoria Police Special Operations Group fired their weapons, killing Freeman in a hail of bullets.

Background of the Manhunt

The seven-month manhunt began in late August 2025, after Freeman shot and killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. The two officers were part of a team serving a warrant at Freeman’s home in Porepunkah.

A third officer was injured during the attack before Freeman disappeared into dense bushland. The resulting search became Australia’s largest-ever tactical police operation.

The investigation into Freeman’s associates aims to uncover the support network that allowed him to survive on the run for seven months before the final standoff in Thologolong, which was located more than 150 kilometres from his home in Porepunkah.