Victoria police rely on high-tech surveillance as Dezi Freeman manhunt enters fourth week

Victoria police said the search for Dezi Freeman remains active as the manhunt entered its fourth week, with authorities continuing to rely on specialized teams to comb the rugged bushland around Mount Buffalo and the town of Porepunkah.

More than 125 officers have been deployed to scour the area, including personnel crawling through caves, crossing rivers, and traversing gorges in what officials describe as a high-risk, technically demanding operation. Officers have also searched hundreds of homes and properties both with warrants and in areas where investigators have priority leads, though no trace of Freeman has been found to date.

Authorities have deployed long-range surveillance units capable of high-resolution imaging that blends a telescopic camera with a microwave booster to extend detection in dense terrain. Several of these units are stationed across the region, including one mounted on a hilltop overlooking Freeman's Porepunkah property where the deadly ambush occurred. The equipment is intended to provide detailed visual information from a distance, reducing the need for ground teams to enter particularly dangerous zones.

Freeman, 56, is a self-styled sovereign citizen and experienced bushman who vanished after an August 26 shootout at his Porepunkah property during a routine search warrant linked to historical sexual assault allegations involving a minor. Authorities say he fled into dense alpine bushland after exchanging gunfire with ten officers who arrived to execute the warrant on the converted bus Freeman and his wife Mali had been living in with their two children.

Investigators reviewed video footage from the incident, which shows Freeman refusing to unlock the door as officers forced entry and then escaping after a volley of shots. Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart Hottart were killed at the scene, and a third officer sustained serious injuries, though the timing of that injury was not immediately clear.

As the manhunt stretched into its fourth week, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, Russell Barrett, described the operation as one of the most challenging in Victoria Police history. He said the search had required rugged fieldwork across caves, rivers, plantations, and gorges, and that officers had to operate with limited line-of-sight to teammates in a search area that offered constant potential threats from wildlife and the terrain itself. Barrett emphasized that the search would continue with the same level of caution and technical rigor given the dangers involved and Freeman's demonstrated capability to evade capture.

Freeman remains at large despite a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his capture. Friends and associates have described his survival instincts and willingness to vanish into the wilderness for extended periods, often without packing his car or carrying conventional camping gear. A long-standing question for investigators is whether he has stashed supplies in advance or is receiving help from others in the remote area, though authorities have not publicly confirmed any third-party involvement.

The case has drawn widespread attention, with reports detailing Freeman's past behavior as a bushman who preferred living off the grid. Never-before-seen photographs circulated by outlets described him in rugged outdoor settings, illustrating his claimed expertise in navigating and surviving in harsh environments. While these images offer a window into the fugitive’s skills, officials cautioned that the focus remains on locating him safely and bringing the investigation to a resolution.

The search area around Mount Buffalo and Porepunkah covers a landscape of steep escarpments, river crossings, and forested terrain that presents ongoing hazards to responders. Police have stressed that the operation relies on specialized capabilities and careful coordination to avoid jeopardizing officers’ safety, particularly as Freeman is believed to be highly mobile and familiar with the local geography. As the investigation advances, authorities will continue to reassess leads, deploy additional resources if required, and maintain contact with the local community to provide updates on the status of the search.