Overview

• Fugitive Squad and Special Operations officers arrested Freeman’s wife, Mali, and a 15-year-old in a Chandler Court raid on Thursday night before interviewing and releasing them pending further inquiries.
• Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said more than 450 officers from Victoria and interstate agencies are deployed, urged Freeman to surrender, and warned that anyone assisting him risks prosecution.
• Search teams are systematically sweeping bushland, mines, caves and dugouts and have conducted targeted operations in Porepunkah, with no confirmed sightings reported.
• Severe weather is slowing operations, with heavy rain, hail, thick cloud, damaging winds up to about 110–115 km/h and forecast blizzard conditions with snow lowering to roughly 600–700 metres.
• Police said the original warrant related to alleged child‑sex offending and confirmed specialist SOG support was considered but not requested, as funerals with full police honours are set for Senior Constable Vadim De Waart on Friday and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson on September 8.