A man charged with a firearm offence amid the bushland hunt for Dezi Freeman is furious he is being investigated as an alleged associate of the fugitive.
Steve Mallett, 61, was arrested on Friday in Bright, just outside Porepunkah in Victoria, and charged with possessing an imitation firearm and a drug of dependence.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Man arrested amid Dezi Freeman hunt speaks
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Police are also probing whether he was an associate of Freeman.
But Mallett, who is a self-proclaimed “outlaw biker” and local blacksmith, spoke to 7NEWS and claimed he has never met Freeman.
He says he founded a group called ‘The Australian Preppers,’ describing it as a self-sustainability group that concentrates largely on hunting.
Mallett said Freeman was one of the 45,000 online members.
“It’s not right at all. I’ve never met him, not at all. He was a member of the group,” Mallett said.
The blacksmith said he thought he was going to die when police came to his property.
“I looked up once and saw all of the hands on the triggers. I stuck my bloody hands up and waited for the bullets to come howling in on me,” he said.
Police are throwing everything at their bushland hunt for Freeman, who has been on the run for seven days after two officers were killed.
The 56-year-old self-described sovereign citizen is accused of killing Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35.
Freeman’s wife Amalia Freeman pleaded for him to safely surrender and put an end to the ordeal in Victoria’s high country.
She said she did not hold anti-authority views and would co-operate with police in any way she could.
Amalia and her 15-year-old son were arrested at a Porepunkah home last week.
Both were interviewed and later released without charge.
“We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy,” she said.
“Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with the police.”
- With AAP
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