Victoria’s top cop has shed major details behind the shooting of fugitive Dezi Freeman, after he was shot dead by police officers after months on the run.
Victoria’s top cop has shed major details on the fatal shooting of Dezi Freeman – confirming a firearm was presented at officers and he was given every opportunity to resolve the situation peacefully.
Freeman was shot by police shortly after 8.30am on Monday in a shipping container at a rural property in Victoria’s northeast.
Police said the shooting occurred after a stand-off with Freeman, which lasted for “several hours”.
Victoria Chief Police Commissioner Mike Bush said he was very comfortable officers acted appropriately after seeing the footage.
“It’s quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully, and did not take that option,” he said.
“I have seen video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers.
“That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully, of course, having said that the independent investigation will look at all aspects.
“We tried everything possible, every tactical option that we have, to encourage the deceased to end this in a safe and peaceful manner. They weren’t taken.
“I won’t go into what those tactics were, but I can assure you that they were applied.”
Victoria’s top cop has shed major details on the fatal shooting of Dezi Freeman – confirming a firearm was presented at officers and he was given every opportunity to resolve the situation peacefully.
Freeman was shot by police shortly after 8.30am on Monday in a shipping container at a rural property in Victoria’s northeast.
Police said the shooting occurred after a stand-off with Freeman, which lasted for “several hours”.
Victoria Chief Police Commissioner Mike Bush said he was very comfortable officers acted appropriately after seeing the footage.
“It’s quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully, and did not take that option,” he said.
“I have seen video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers.
“That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully, of course, having said that the independent investigation will look at all aspects.
“We tried everything possible, every tactical option that we have, to encourage the deceased to end this in a safe and peaceful manner. They weren’t taken.
“I won’t go into what those tactics were, but I can assure you that they were applied.”
Mr Bush said it was not clear how many shots Freeman allegedly fired at police before he was shot dead.
He said investigators would carry out a forensic examination of the weapon found near Freeman’s body and search the container where he was living.
“The scene has been locked down, secured, and the scene examination is only commencing now,” he said.
“It’s quite possible that the weapon that is at the scene was one of our officer’s weapons. We’ve seen that weapon but haven’t examined the weapon at this point.”
Mr Bush said police believed no one else had been at the property apart from Freeman over the past 24 hours.
“That doesn’t mean there haven’t been in the past, that too will form part of our inquiry,” he said.
“We’re still trying to locate (the property owner) and speak with that person. We know who that person is.
“It is very important for us to understand how long he’s been here and who else was complicit in getting him here and then caring for him or providing him with food and other things to this point.”
Mr Bush said an investigation into the incident could take days.
Freeman had been on the run since August after he shot dead two police officers in regional Victoria.
Mr Bush said he spoke to one of the officer’s parents in person and they were very happy the matter has been brought closure.
“I’ve already spoken … to the officer who was seriously injured,” he said.
“He too is happy that there is closure.”
Freeman hid in shipping containers in northeast Victoria
Chilling images revealed the shipping containers where fugitive Dezi Freeman was found in Victoria’s northeast before he was shot to death in a standoff with police after more than seven months on the run.
Mr Bush said Freeman was hiding in a “cross between a shipping container and a very long caravan”.
Footage from 7News revealed the cluster of shipping containers at the rural location where the fugitive was fatally shot.
One of the blue shipping containers was swarmed by cars.
It is not known if Freeman had access to any of the vehicles in the area.
Victoria’s top police officer said it is “quite possible” Freeman was armed and wrapped in a blanket when he was shot dead.
Asked about the reports Freeman was armed and wrapped in a blanket during Monday morning’s confrontation, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it was “quite possible”.
“A lot of the information we have is yet to be confirmed,” he said.
“But that is our – my – understanding at this stage.”
Mr Bush said there was a “very large team” involved in the standoff on Monday morning.
“There was an appeal to encourage the person to come out,” he said.
“We are examining the sequence of events and we will be able to report on that, but it did result from a stand-off, the deployment of tactics.
“He then exited the building.
“There was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully, which he did not.”
Freeman’s death brings ‘closure to tragic event’
Mr Bush said while police believe the man was Freeman, he had not formally been identified.
“Whilst it’s been reported that person is Dezi Freeman, we have to run through a very formal identification process, so Victoria Police at this stage will not confirm the identity of that person until that process has been undertaken,” he said.
“Should it be confirmed that the deceased is Freeman, this brings closure to what was a tragic and terrible event.
“The very first people to be made aware of the outcome of this operation were the families of the officers tragically killed on 26 August and all of the members that were involved on that day.”
Sources say there was a shootout on the property that police attended after a tip-off that Freeman may have been there. He was apparently found in a shipping container.
Police received more than 2000 pieces of information in the 216-day search for Freeman.
“A man has been fatally shot by police at a property in northeast Victoria this morning as part of the operation to locate Desmond Freeman,” police said on Monday.
“No police officers were injured during the incident.
“The State Coroner will attend the scene and the investigation will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, as per standard process for a police shooting.
“Further information will be released today as the situation develops.”
Freeman’s zeath a ‘step forward’
Freeman, formerly Filby, has been wanted by police since two officers were gunned down at a remote property at Porepunkah, in Victoria’s northeast, while they were trying to execute a search warrant on August 26.
Detective Leading Constable Neal Thompson and Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were killed, and a third police officer was seriously injured during the shooting.
Police last saw the 56-year-old flee into bushland while armed with guns near the Rayner Track property.
In a statement, the The Police Association Victoria said the fugitive’s death was a “step forward”.
“Our members said they would find him. They did,” a statement read.
“Closure isn’t the right word. This represents a step forward for our members, for the families of our fallen members and for the community.
“It doesn’t lessen the trauma, give back the futures that were callously stolen or lessen the collective fear and grief that this tragic event has instilled in police and the wider public.”
The association said it would not “reflect on the loss of a coward”.
“We will remember the courage and bravery of our fallen members and every officer that has doggedly pursued this outcome for the community,” the statement read.
“They have worked tirelessly. During this emergency, in the operation that followed and the months thereafter, members across the state have devoted themselves to this singular pursuit.
“Days like today offer a sobering reminder that policing happens while you sleep, when the media spotlight on the investigation dims and everything seems lost and forgotten.”
Community mourns loss of officers
Speaking to media on Monday, Victoria Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said her wishes were with the Porepunkah community.
“The main thing is our thoughts, concerns and support with the Porepunkah community, and of course the families of the two police officers who were killed in that tragedy,” she said.
Alpine Shire mayor Sarah Nicholas said the incident had shaken the Porepunkah community.
“Our community has been deeply affected by these recent events, which have had a significant impact on many individuals and families,” a statement read on social media.
“We will be doing everything we can to continue supporting our community through this difficult time.
“If these events have been distressing or triggering, we encourage community members to reach out for support.”
Local MP Helen Haines said the manhunt for the cop killer was a “dark cloud”.
“Over the past six months, a dark cloud has hung over the Porepunkah community. News this morning of the death of Mr Freeman draws this prolonged and devastating incident to a close,” she said.
“This will come as a relief to the whole community – especially to the families of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart and their colleagues.
Manhunt for Freeman
Freeman was a self-described “sovereign citizen”, married father of two and an experienced bushman who had previously been hostile towards police and the judicial system.
Sovereign citizens generally reject the democratic rule of law and the legitimacy of the government, instead promoting alternative structures of authority and promoting narratives that aim to delegitimise Australian democracy.
A large-scale manhunt involving 450 Victoria Police officers, Australian Defence Force members, Australian Federal Police and officers from other states searched for the double murderer using heat detecting assets and other technology.
Heavily armed officers in Bearcats and police vehicles searched Freeman’s property.
More than 100 properties in the Porepunkah region were also searched by police in the hunt for the gunman.
There was speculation Freeman could be hiding underground in one of the hundreds of mineshafts in the area or was being harboured by sympathisers.
A $1m reward was offered to anyone who provided information that led to his arrest.
A no-fly zone was in place banning all aircraft, including drones, from flying within a 7.5km zone of the Porepunkah Airport.
“Given the suspect in this matter is heavily armed, this condition has been granted due to the risk to aircraft and drones,” police said.
Heartbreak for slain cops
Constable Thompson was about to retire after 38 years of service with Victoria Police.
He was laid to rest on September 8, with his partner Sergeant Lisa Thompson describing him as an “incredible man” and the love of her life.
“We worked one shift together and it changed the course of my life,” she said.
“In just eight hours, I learned so much about him … his passion for the (Essendon) Bombers, hunting, fishing and catching crooks.
“I had never laughed so much with someone I’d just met.”
Constable de Waart-Hottart, 35, was laid to rest on September 5.
Mr Bush said Constable de Waart-Hottart was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta at the time of the alleged shooting.
His brother Sacha said the senior constable had “always been my hero, my protector”.