Police are urging people to check any trail and hunting cameras left inside Mount Buffalo National Park during the search for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman, now that the park has reopened.
Over the last seven weeks, police investigations have centred around the park after Freeman was last seen fleeing into the Victorian bushland following the fatal shooting of two police officers on August 26. An extensive search ensued, and the park was closed to the public while ground and air searches were carried out.
While the search for Freeman continues, police announced today they would reopen areas of the park. Recreational park users and hunters that may have left trail cameras in the park have been asked to now collect the cameras and search the footage.
“With the park reopening, police are urging anyone with hunting or trail cameras to check their footage and share any information that may assist investigators,” a spokesperson from Victoria Police said.
Australian adventurer Mike Atkinson, known online as Outback Mike, said it “makes sense” authorities would try to pull from this potential source of information now the park has reopened.
“If he’s going around the area, then it makes sense for the police to ask for that secondary information,” he told Yahoo News.
Trail cameras are commonly used by hunters who are searching for game, with the small, easily camouflaged devices hidden in the bush and left for several hours. They are activated by motion and start to record if an animal or person passes.
“Normally, they [hunters] would check them each day, maybe sunrise and sunset. They have timestamps, so you know exactly when the animals are there, and the cameras have infrared so they work at night. They definitely shoot a wide field of view, too.”
When navigating through bushland, Atkinson explained that travelling along game trails is the easiest and most efficient way to get where you want to go.
Deer hunting has been permitted during prescribed seasons in limited areas of the park.
Trail cameras can be used to monitor wildlife movement. Source: Bunnings
$1 million reward for any information that could lead to arrest
Police have promised a $1 million reward for any information about Dezi Freeman that could lead to his arrest, and more than 800 people have already been spoken to by police, including several of Freeman’s associates.
Hundreds of properties have been searched by officers, either by the owner’s consent or through a search warrant. Over 1,600 pieces of intelligence have been investigated by detectives.
Authorities remain strong in their efforts to catch Freeman.
“The re-opening of the park does not signify the end of the search for Freeman, and Victoria Police will continue to maintain a strong presence in the area,” a Victoria Police spokesperson told Yahoo News.
“Anyone who sees Freeman should phone Triple Zero (000) immediately and not approach him.”
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