Search continues for Dezi Freeman, with police saying they ‘won’t rest’ until he is found
In short:
Police have urged alleged gunman Dezi Freeman to turn himself in to authorities, saying they would support a surrender plan.
The offer comes as part of a major land and air search for Mr Freeman that has been underway since Tuesday.
What’s next?
Locals have been advised they will see a “significant escalation” in policing activity in the area.
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Victorian police have offered Dezi Freeman a surrender plan, but say they will not rest until he is found, as the search for the alleged gunman continues into its third day.
A major manhunt has been underway in alpine bushland around the town of Porepunkah since Tuesday, following the fatal shooting of two police officers.
Police believe the suspected 56-year-old gunman is hiding in bushland near the property where the incident took place and is heavily armed.
There have been no confirmed sightings of him since he fled the scene of the alleged shooting.
“If Dezi Freeman is watching this, ring triple-0,” Superintendent Brett Kahan said at a press conference outside Wangaratta Police Station on Thursday afternoon.
“We will support a surrender plan. That option is open to him.”
Mr Freeman was last seen fleeing into the bush on foot after allegedly opening fire at a group of 10 police officers.
Police were executing a warrant for historical sex offences at the property when the shooting allegedly began.
Two officers — Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart — were killed, while a third officer sustained lower body injuries.
Victoria Police have deployed extensive resources as part of the search for the 56-year-old, including helicopters using thermal imagery, tactical armoured vehicles and dozens of policing units from across the state.
Local community advised of ‘significant escalation’ in police operations
Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations Russell Barrett said the operation would only continue to ramp up.
“We have every available asset, every capabilities that police in Victoria has … we won’t rest until we apprehend the offender,” he said on Thursday afternoon.
“The community up here and across the state will see a significant escalation in policing activity. That shouldn’t be unexpected.Two fallen police officers named
Victoria Police has named Detective Leading Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart as the two officers who were killed at a property in Victoria’s north-east yesterday.
“We’ve got a protracted search, it’s complex and we’re methodically working through it.”
Police said the search operation was challenging due to the heavily forested and mountainous nature of Porepunkah and its surrounding countryside.
The town is located on the foot of Mount Buffalo, which has many natural caves that could serve as hideouts.
According to experts, Mr Freeman, who police have said understands bushcraft better than authorities, could sustain himself for weeks in the woods.
Deputy Commissioner Barrett said police believed he remained in Porepunkah, warning locals to be vigilant.
He said reassurance patrols had also been deployed for communities but that they no longer had to remain locked down in their homes.
“We have a very strong community reassurance plan. We will continue to do that and each police officer on the street offers a reassurance,” Deputy Commissioner Barrett said.
Tourists looking to visit the areas for snow-related activities have also been advised to stay clear.
The third police officer who was allegedly shot has had surgery in hospital and is recovering.
PM says officers will be ‘remembered as heroes’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the fallen police officers during Thursday’s Question Time in Parliament.
“All Australians are thinking of the families, loved ones and colleagues of the two Victoria Police officers who were killed in the line of duty, on Tuesday morning,” he said.
“As a Parliament, as a country, we offer our deepest condolence to all whose worlds have been shattered by this horrific shooting. Our heart goes out to everyone whose heart is breaking.”
Mr Albanese said he had spoken with the Victorian government and had offered federal support for the investigation.
He also offered his condolences to the Porepunkah community and wider police fraternity.
“Every time they put on their uniform, police officers put themselves on the line. And they do it for us,” he said.
“It will take time before we have a full and clear picture of what led to Tuesday’s terrible events, but today we can say this with absolute certainty … Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson was a hero. Senior Constable Vadim De Waart was a hero … may they rest in peace.”
What are my rights when I’m pulled over by police? What to know in Michigan
Detroit Free Press
June 12, 2025, 6:02 a.m. ET
- Everyone has constitutional rights when being pulled over by police, and those rights apply regardless of immigration status, the ACLU says.
- Some of the key constitutional rights include the right to remain silent and the right to refuse a police search of your vehicle without probable cause or a warrant.
If you’re pulled over by police, it’s best to know your rights before it happens so you can protect yourself, experts say.
Traffic stops can have varied outcomes — sometimes the stop turns heated, and in rare cases violent or even deadly. Although the ACLU maintains that police hold the burden of de-escalation, that doesn’t always happen. It’s important for drivers and passengers to use their best judgement and stay calm, said Mark Fancher, an attorney at Michigan’s ACLU.
“The best thing to do is not match their energy” if an encounter with police does become hostile, said metro Detroit civil rights attorney Amir Makled. He said don’t lie and don’t argue. The place to argue is in court, Makled said.
It’s important to know that you have constitutional rights — such as the right to remain silent, to ask for an attorney, and to refuse a search without a warrant or probable cause — regardless of immigration or citizenship status, experts say.
It’s also important to educate yourself on your rights to push back against government overreach, Makled said. Makled, who is representing pro-Palestinian protestors who were arrested at the University of Michigan, was detained by federal agents at the Detroit Metro Airport in April 2025, where they asked him to give up his cell phone. He stood his ground and refused — agents looked at his contact list instead.
After that experience, he’s been visiting schools in Dearborn to educate young people about their rights.
If you’re pulled over by police or federal agents, here’s what advocates say you need to know.
You have the right to remain silent
That includes the driver and all passengers in a car. And if you’re a passenger, you can ask if you’re free to leave. Makled said you don’t have to answer any questions from officers, such as: “Where are you going?”, “Where are you coming from?”, “Do you know why you are being pulled over?”
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You are obligated to provide identification, registration, insurance and other documents required by law, Makled said.
If they ask why you aren’t answering their questions, Makled said you can tell them you are choosing to remain silent. And if they become hostile or aggravated, you can ask police if you are being arrested or detained, Makled said.
The ACLU has guidance on how to reduce the risk of harm to yourself once you’re pulled over:
- Stop the car in a safe place.
- Turn off the car, turn on the lights inside, open the window partially, and place your hands on the steering wheel. Passengers should place their hands on the dashboard.
- When police ask for your driver’s license registration, and proof of insurance, show them.
- Try and avoid making any sudden movements and keep your hands visible to officers.
You don’t have to consent to a police search
Fancher said many people aren’t aware that you can refuse consent if police want to search your car without probable cause or a warrant.
“In fact, it’s best not to,” he said. But if you do refuse consent, it’s best to do so politely, he said.
Police can’t search yourself without consent either without probable cause, Fancher said. But they can pat you down for weapons, Fancher said.
Makled said police in Michigan are also no longer allowed to search a vehicle based on the smell of marijuana alone.
If you are arrested or detained
If the traffic stop leads to an arrest or if police detain you, tell officers that you wish to remain silent and immediately ask for a lawyer, according to the ACLU’s guidance. If you are arrested, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer if you can’t afford one. If you are detained, you have a right to consult with a lawyer.
If you’re arrested, you have the right to make a local phone call. The ACLU says the police are prohibited from listening in on a phone call with a lawyer, but police “can and often will” listen to calls made to others.
And Fancher said you have a right to be free from unreasonable detention during a traffic stop. For example, if you’re being cited for a traffic violation, police can’t detain you for longer than it takes to give you that citation. If they are holding you for longer, Fancher said you can politely ask officers if you’re under arrest and if you’re free to leave.
If your rights were violated
Fancher said it’s also important to write down important details if you think your rights were violated, such as officer’s badge numbers. The ACLU also recommends filing a complaint with the police agency you made contact with, getting contact information from witnesses and document any injuries suffered.
Makled said you are also allowed to record officers, and tell them you are recording them.
If you are undocumented and stopped by immigration, border officials
Regardless of immigration or citizenship status, you have the right to remain silent, to refuse a search without a warrant or probable cause, the right to ask for an attorney, and the right to calmly leave if you’re not under arrest. And these rights apply when stopped by immigration agents as well, according to the ACLU.
National immigrant rights organizations have guidelines for those who are undocumented, or those who aren’t yet a citizen but have papers to legally reside in the U.S.
If you are undocumented, you do not have to, and should not, discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration, or other officials, including the country you are born in, according to the National Immigrant Justice Center. Anything you say to an officer can be used against you in immigration court, the organization advises.
The National Immigration Law Center also says you shouldn’t carry any documents that show you were born outside of the U.S. — officials can use that to try and deport you.
And you shouldn’t lie or provide false names or documents, either, according to the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. Provide your full name to officials.
If you’re undocumented but have been living in the country for at least two years, the National Immigration Law Center says you should carry proof, such as your rental contract, church, school records, or mail with a home address and dates. Officials can try and deport you without seeing a judge if you can’t prove you’ve been living in the country for at least two years, the center says.
If you are detained by ICE, you have the right to contact your consulate or have an officer inform the consulate that you’ve been detained, according to the ACLU. It’s also advised that you remember your immigration number — also called an “A” number — and give it to your family to help locate you, the ACLU says. Someone you trust should have copies of your immigration documents.
If you have legal immigration status
The law requires that those with green cards, asylum or refugee status, a valid student or other visa, or temporary protected status should carry your lawful permanent resident card or immigration papers that show your status, according to the National Immigration Law Center. If an officer asks to see documentation, show them.
If your immigration status is pending and not yet valid, you should have a copy of immigration papers that shows that you applied for status or are appealing an immigration decision, the center says. If you’re arrested, show papers to the immigration officer. But if you aren’t arrested, stay silent.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her atasahouri@freepress.com.
