In a breathtaking development that has stunned Australia just 15 minutes ago, Victoria Police have confirmed the arrest of Desmond “Dezi” Freeman, the 56-year-old sovereign citizen fugitive accused of fatally shooting two officers in August 2025. The dramatic takedown occurred on day 165 of one of the nation’s most intense manhunts, ending speculation that Freeman had perished in the wilderness.
Sources inside Victoria Police revealed that Freeman was apprehended at approximately 4:45 PM local time in a quiet suburban café in Wangaratta, a regional town about 70 kilometers northwest of his original Porepunkah property. Disguised with a dyed beard, shaved head, reading glasses, and casual worker’s clothing, the alleged gunman was reportedly sipping coffee while scrolling on a prepaid phone when plainclothes detectives from the Special Operations Group (SOG) moved in.
Eyewitnesses described a swift and professional operation: four officers approached Freeman’s table, identified themselves, and ordered him to the ground. “He didn’t resist at all – just looked up with this resigned expression and put his hands up,” one patron told reporters outside the café. “No one even realized who he was until the cops cuffed him and led him out.”
The breakthrough came from a combination of old-fashioned tip-off and cutting-edge surveillance. Police confirmed that a member of the public recognized Freeman from ongoing media appeals and anonymously contacted the $1 million reward hotline earlier today. Acting on the intel, investigators cross-referenced CCTV footage from regional buses and service stations, tracing a suspicious individual who had been moving sporadically between small towns in Victoria’s northeast since late January.
Detective Inspector Adam Tilley, who has led the investigation since day one, addressed media in a hastily convened press conference outside Wangaratta Police Station moments after the arrest.
“This is an extraordinary outcome after 165 days of relentless pursuit,” Tilley said. “Dezi Freeman is now in custody, unharmed, and will face justice for the alleged murders of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, as well as the attempted murder of a third officer. We always held hope he was alive, and today’s result validates the tireless work of hundreds of officers, volunteers, and the community.”
Tilley revealed that Freeman had evaded the massive searches in Mount Buffalo National Park – including the five-day operation that concluded just hours earlier with no trace found – by cleverly exiting the rugged terrain within the first week. Intelligence suggests he hitched discreet rides, slept rough in abandoned sheds, and relied on cash purchases at remote stores to avoid digital traces. He reportedly grew out facial hair, altered his gait, and adopted a false identity as a itinerant laborer seeking seasonal farm work.
The arrest comes on the very day police wrapped up their latest bushland search, which had focused on the theory that Freeman died by self-harm or exposure shortly after fleeing. That operation, involving over 100 specialists, drones, and cadaver dogs, yielded nothing – fueling quiet optimism among investigators that he had somehow slipped the net.
Background: The Nightmare Begins
The saga started on August 26, 2025, when four officers from Brighton Police Station arrived at Freeman’s isolated Rayner Track property in Porepunkah to execute a search warrant related to historical allegations. Within minutes, gunfire erupted. Officers Neal Thompson, 48, and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 35 – both experienced and well-liked members of the force – were killed. A third officer suffered serious injuries but survived.
Freeman, armed with multiple weapons and deeply entrenched in sovereign citizen ideology, fled on foot into the vast, unforgiving wilderness of Mount Buffalo National Park. Described by family as knowing the area like the back of his hand since childhood, he was initially feared to be holed up in caves, old mineshafts, or even a pre-prepared bunker.
What followed was Australia’s largest peacetime manhunt: thousands of officer-hours, thermal imaging helicopters, sniper teams, ballistic testing, and repeated grid searches. Conspiracy theories flourished online, with some fringe groups hailing Freeman as a “hero” resisting government tyranny. Others speculated wild escapes to New Zealand or secret support networks.
Yet no confirmed sightings emerged. No bodies. No weapons caches. Just endless bushland and fading hope.
How He Survived 165 Days
Forensic psychologists and survival experts consulted by police believe Freeman’s freelance photography background and bushcraft knowledge were key. He allegedly scavenged food from remote huts, filtered water from streams, and avoided main trails. The harsh alpine winter – with sub-zero nights – would have tested even seasoned survivalists, but Freeman’s apparent exit from the park early on allowed him to blend into regional communities.
Investigators found discarded clothing and food wrappers in remote areas consistent with a deliberate misdirection: making police believe he remained entrenched in the mountains while he moved toward populated areas under cover.
The disguise was masterful. Photos from café security cameras show a man bearing little resemblance to the wanted posters: fuller face (possibly from weight gain), graying beard, and baseball cap. He paid cash for everything, used public libraries for limited internet access, and avoided known associates.
The Tip-Off That Ended It All
The anonymous caller – eligible for the full $1 million reward – reportedly spotted Freeman at a Wangaratta bus stop yesterday. “Something about the eyes and the way he carried himself,” the source allegedly told police. Combined with AI-enhanced facial recognition scans of regional CCTV, it was enough.
Plainclothes teams tailed him to the café, waiting for the perfect moment to avoid public risk. No shots fired. No chase. Just custody.
Reaction: Relief, Grief, and Reckoning
Families of the fallen officers were informed first. In a statement, the Thompson and De Waart-Hottart families expressed profound relief: “Today brings accountability. Our loved ones can finally rest knowing justice is coming.”
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton praised the operation: “This arrest honors the memory of two brave officers and shows that no one evades the law forever.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented briefly: “A dark chapter closes with the capture of this alleged killer. My thoughts remain with the Victorian police family.”
Sovereign citizen watchers warn the arrest could inflame online extremists, but mainstream Australia breathes a collective sigh.
What’s Next?
Freeman is currently being processed at Wangaratta Station ahead of transfer to Melbourne for charging. He faces two counts of murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. A bedside hearing is expected tomorrow, with strict security measures.
The $1 million reward will be paid pending verification, and police urge anyone with information on possible accomplices – even unwitting aid – to come forward.
After 165 grueling days, the wilderness has released its secret. Dezi Freeman is behind bars, and a nation scarred by tragedy edges toward healing.