Police will scour mines, caves and dugouts for a fugitive accused of shooting two of their own dead as conditions deteriorate for the manhunt’s fourth day.
Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, fled into bushland after he allegedly killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, at a Porepunkah property in regional Victoria.
Another wounded officer, who was among the group of 10 attempting to serve a search warrant relating to alleged child sex offending, is expected to recover after undergoing surgery.
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With Freeman on the run, the small community 300km northeast of Melbourne has been urged to stay vigilant.
Weather conditions on the ground were forecast to deteriorate on Friday as showers laced with hail and thunderstorms passed through, bringing wintry conditions including snowfall to 600m above sea level, senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Every available asset and police capability was being deployed on the ground to apprehend Freeman, Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Russell Barrett said.
“That’s our purpose, and we will not rest until it occurs,” he said.
Superintendent Brett Kahan said the terrain was difficult and dangerous.
“It’s not something that we, even with our specialist resources, can move through quickly,” he said.
Police continued to speak with Freeman’s wife, as officers investigated properties, mines, caves and dugouts in the area.
“We will systematically search areas of interest,” Mr Barrett said.
Anyone assisting Freeman has been urged to reconsider or risk serious punishment, while the accused gunman himself was urged to surrender.
“Ring triple zero, and we will support a surrender plan. That option is absolutely open to him,” Supt Kahan said.
The bodies of the fallen officers were given a guard of honour by flashing-light police cars as they were taken to Melbourne Coroners Court on Wednesday night.
Det Snr Const Thompson was cut down in his “last week or so” of work before retirement, and Snr Const Vadim De Waart had a “great career in front of him”, Mr Barrett said.
Local council services would resume on Friday, but the waste tip would remain closed until further notice, Alpine Shire Council said.
Freeman, who has bush survival experience, was last seen wearing dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses, police said.
He is believed to be a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, an ideology that questions government authority and whose followers believe the rule of law doesn’t apply to them, and who disassociate from society.
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