VICTORIA, Australia — A massive police operation is underway in the state’s northeast as authorities search for 56-year-old Dezi Bird Freeman, a self-described “sovereign citizen” accused of fatally shooting two police officers and injuring a third during a confrontation on his rural property in Porepunkah.
Freeman, who was born Desmond Christopher Filby, has a long and troubled history with law enforcement. Known for his fierce anti-government views, he has publicly rejected authority, labeling police “terrorist thugs” and “Nazis.” Court documents reveal he once attempted to “arrest” a magistrate during proceedings, further cementing his notoriety among anti-government circles.
Locals recall a man who was once considered a friendly fixture at community events but whose behavior changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. He became increasingly radicalized, refusing health mandates, railing against government restrictions, and aligning himself with the “sovereign citizen” ideology — a fringe movement that rejects the legitimacy of laws and government authority.
Neighbors say Freeman lived with his family on a 20-hectare property, secured by gates and cameras. Police believe the officers were attempting to search a bus on the property when the shooting erupted. Freeman, described as an experienced bushman, was last seen fleeing into dense bushland. Authorities have warned the public he is armed, dangerous, and may be in possession of weapons stolen from the officers.
The shooting has stunned the tight-knit town of Porepunkah, where Freeman’s wife Mali is known as a music teacher and supermarket worker. While she is described by locals as warm and kind, many had grown concerned about her husband’s increasingly erratic behavior.
Police have vowed to track Freeman down. “This is a dangerous individual who has taken the lives of two of our officers,” a spokesperson said. “We will not rest until he is located.”
The manhunt continues, with officers scouring the rugged terrain and nearby caves as the community grapples with the violent turn of events.
