Alleged Porepunkah Shooter Previously Called Police 'Terrorist Thugs'

Dezi Freeman, the suspect in the shooting and killing of two police officers in rural Victoria, has a history of antagonism toward law enforcement, previously referring to police as "terrorist thugs," "frigging Nazis," and "Gestapo." Freeman, a self-declared "sovereign citizen," has a record of legal conflicts including a disputed driving ban and an attempt to privately prosecute former Premier Daniel Andrews for treason, which was dismissed. He has also made bizarre courtroom attempts to "arrest" magistrates and police officers, reflecting his adherence to pseudolaw beliefs. Police described Freeman as heavily armed and dangerous, with his whereabouts unknown following the incident. The shooting occurred during a police operation related to alleged historical sex crimes, prompting a lockdown and large-scale police response in the Porepunkah area. Freeman's longstanding distrust and hostility toward police, combined with his sovereign citizen ideology, frame the context of the violent confrontation.