Dezi Freeman: Police give update in manhunt for alleged cop killer as they descend on Victorian property

A man who was pulled over by heavily armed police during the search for alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman has been ruled out of any connection to the investigation.

On Wednesday, police stopped a car in Undera, near Shepparton, while tactical units simultaneously searched a home in Goomalibee, close to Benalla.

The operation included the Police Airwing circling above the rural property as specialist officers executed their planned search.

On Thursday, police confirmed that both the Goomalibee property and the man intercepted in Undera were cleared of involvement in the case.

“The property that was searched in Goomalibee has been cleared and a man, who was intercepted in Undera, has also been confirmed as not involved. He has been cleared of any link to our current investigation,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

“The enquiries yesterday formed part of our ongoing investigation and continued work by detectives to work through all avenues of enquiry.”

Authorities confirmed a major operation on Wednesday, forming an “ongoing investigation in the Porepunkah area in the search for Desmond Freeman”.

Tactical response officers and special operations units were in the area which is about 100km from the scene of the double murder on August 6, as “part of a planned operation” a police statement said.

Freeman is accused of killing Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, as they tried to serve a warrant at his Porepunkah property, some three hours northeast of Melbourne.

A third detective, whose name has not been publicly released, underwent surgery for a leg injury in the aftermath. Seven other officers were able to escape unharmed physically.

Freeman allegedly fled the scene and has not been seen since. Police have announced that their search efforts for the fugitive were scaled back last week.

Victoria Police have a record $1 million dollar reward in place for information leading to the arrest of Freeman as the search continues.

Homicide Squad head Detective Inspector Dean Thomas confirmed the $1 million reward is the largest ever offered for an arrest in Victoria Police history, and is not conditional on conviction, but on information that leads directly to Mr Freeman’s apprehension.

“For anybody, $1 million is a significant amount of money and it will have lifelong changes to people’s circumstances,” Mr Thomas said.

“This reward is for information that leads to his apprehension and not his conviction.”