Man detained as Myrtleford raid expands search for alleged killer Dezi Freeman

A man was detained on Friday as part of the ongoing search for alleged double murderer Dezi Freeman after heavily armed officers descended on a home in Myrtleford, in Victoria's Alpine region.

Tactical officers with unmarked cars and an armored vehicle stormed the residence near Standish Street and Roberts Street around 4 p.m., leading a man wearing a black hood in handcuffs, according to the Herald Sun. Police reportedly searched the home for illegal firearms as part of the broader investigation into the alleged killings.

Freeman, 56, has been on the run for more than three weeks after he allegedly shot dead two officers and fled into dense bushland. The two officers killed were Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. Freeman, who styles himself as a "sovereign citizen," is described as an experienced bushman who may have pre-positioned supply caches to survive in rugged terrain.

The investigation has previously focused on Freeman's remote Porepunkah property in Victoria's Alpine region, where police attended on August 26 to execute a search warrant related to alleged historical sex offences. He had been living in a bus and is believed to be carrying multiple firearms, including a homemade shotgun, a rifle, and a police weapon recovered after the ambush.

Authorities have offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Freeman's capture, a record payout for Victoria Police. He was last seen wearing dark green track pants, a matching rain jacket, brown boots and reading glasses, according to reports.

As the search widens, local businesses in the town of Bright have received about $5,000 grants for loss of income, as authorities say hundreds of officers are involved in what is described as the largest tactical operation in Australia's history. Residents have described the area as a "ghost town" amid the operation, which continues into its fourth week.