‘People know’ hideout for fugitive alleged cop-killer
Police are urging anyone who knows the whereabouts of an accused cop killer to come forward, as officers in SA swoop on the protestor who waved a vile tribute to the man at an Adelaide rally.
Source: ABC TV
Someone knows where a man accused of killing two police officers is hiding out nearly a week after the alleged ambush murders, police say.
“People know the whereabouts of the person who’s killed two cops,” Superintendent Brett Kahan said on Monday.
“People have chosen, for whatever reason, not to come forward, and I’m taking this time to appeal to you to come forward in that respect.”
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.
Investigators said they had received more than 450 pieces of information in connection to the search.
Monday’s appeal came as police in South Australia were tracking down a protester who waved a placard appearing to show Freeman’s face at Adelaide’s anti-immigration rally on Sunday, as similar marches were held around the country.
SA Police Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said the image of the wanted killer over the words “Free Man” was “offensive”, “disgraceful” and “outrageous”.
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She said police had identified the man and would consider charging him.
“I think that that would have disturbed any right-minded person, including our members who saw the sign yesterday,” she said.
A placard showing wanted man Dezi Freeman was among the signs at an anti-immigration rally in Adelaide.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the protester’s actions were “despicable and disgusting”.
“It’s very hard to find the words for it, really.”
Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said it was “the most distasteful thing I saw [at the weekend rallies]”.
“That just made us all feel sick and I was appalled by seeing that poster. That person is not a free man — he’s a wanted man,” he said.
In other developments in the hunt for Freeman, police have set up a bus in the High Country town of Bright, 10 minutes’ drive from Porepunkah.
It is stationed outside the church on Ireland Street and will be staffed by police officers during the day, every day. Locals are encouraged to drop by and speak to police.
Kahan said he couldn’t confirm whether charges would be laid against Freeman’s wife Amalia.
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She was arrested alongside the couple’s 15-year-old son at a Porepunkah home last week.
“It’s two different things to be speaking with police and co-operating with police,” Kahan added in reference to Freeman.
“If people such as the fugitive’s wife isn’t giving us full co-operation, I would encourage you to do so.”
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for the slain officers are being finalised.
De Waart will be farewelled on Friday, with a funeral for Thompson to follow on September 8.
Both services will be held at the Victoria Police Academy with full police honours. Neither will be open to the public.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Police Commissioner Mike Bush and other leaders observed a moment of silence in Melbourne on Monday to honour the fallen officers.
The minute’s silence was held at a meeting of the state’s cabinet, which Bush attended.
“We stand with your colleagues and their families. So do the Victorian people,” Allan posted on social media.
Freeman is accused of shooting three officers while they were delivering a warrant at his rural property. Thompson and De Waart were killed, while a third officer was flown to hospital in Melbourne. He is recovering from his injuries.
Police are also probing whether a 61-year-old man arrested at Bright, just outside Porepunkah, was associated with Freeman.
The man was allegedly found with weapons and cannabis.
He has been charged with possessing an imitation firearm and a drug of dependence.
The man told Seven News he had never met Freeman, who was a member of a 45,000-strong online group he founded that was dedicated to sustainability and largely focused on hunting.
More than 400 police officers from Victoria, plus interstate colleagues, have been battling sometimes blizzard-like conditions as part of the search.
-with AAP
