Key facts
- Two men have been arrested as part of the investigation into Dezi Freeman's movements.
- Police believe Freeman traveled between Victoria and New South Wales during the seven months he was on the run.
- Freeman killed two police officers in August 2025 and was found dead on March 30.
- Warrants were executed at seven properties across Victoria and NSW.
- A 64-year-old man was arrested in Wodonga, and a 47-year-old man was arrested in Greenwich Park, NSW.
Two men have been arrested as police continue their investigation into the movements of Dezi Freeman, who killed two officers in August 2025 and evaded capture for seven months. Authorities revealed on Tuesday that they believe Freeman traveled between Victoria and New South Wales during his time on the run.
The seven-month search for Freeman concluded on March 30 when he was found and subsequently died after being shot by police on a remote property in Thologolong, near the Victoria-New South Wales border. Police stated that Freeman likely received assistance from several individuals during this period.
The arrests on Tuesday followed searches of seven properties across Victoria and NSW as part of Operation Summit, the ongoing investigation into Freeman's activities after the 2025 shootings. Warrants were executed in Buckland, Stanley, and Lucyvale in Victoria, and in Greenwich Park, Tarlo, Wombeyan Caves, and Umina Beach in NSW.
A 64-year-old man from Lucyvale was arrested in Wodonga and is expected to be interviewed by police. A 47-year-old man from Wombeyan Caves was arrested in Greenwich Park on unrelated outstanding warrants. Police indicated that no further arrests are planned at this stage, but they are speaking with individuals at the seven properties. Searches of these locations are ongoing, and electronic devices have been seized.
This development follows the earlier arrest of two men in May by Taskforce Summit detectives, who were later released without charge. Freeman had fatally shot Det Leading Sen Const Neal Thompson, 59, and Sen Const Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 35, and injured a third officer at a Porepunkah property in August 2025. The officers were part of a group serving a search warrant when Freeman, who had associations with pseudolaw or "sovereign citizen" ideology, opened fire and fled.
Det Insp Anthony Gasparini of Taskforce Summit stated that the investigation continues to piece together the events of the shooting and Freeman's subsequent movements. He emphasized that the investigation aims to identify and hold accountable those who may have provided support to the fugitive, potentially committing serious offenses themselves. Police are appealing for anyone with information about Freeman's movements between August 2025 and March 2026 to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria.