Police are yet to reveal whether a man charged with weapons and drug offences in Victoria’s north-east is being investigated in connection to the search for alleged gunman Dezi Freeman.
The major search operation for the 56-year-old self-described sovereign citizen has entered a sixth day.
Police allege Mr Freeman shot three police officers who were executing a warrant at his Porepunkah property, killing Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, and injuring a third officer.
It’s alleged Dezi Bird Freeman was armed with a homemade shotgun and other firearms when he fled after shooting the police officers. (Supplied)
On Saturday, Victoria Police revealed they were questioning a 61-year-old man who had been arrested in Bright, just outside Porepunkah.
Police found weapons and cannabis in the man’s home about 4:45pm on Friday.
The man has been charged with being a prohibited person possessing an imitation firearm and possessing a drug of dependence.
He was bailed to appear before Myrtleford Magistrate’s Court on October 3.
Police have not revealed whether the man was associated with Mr Freeman.
“This forms part of an ongoing investigation,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said on Sunday.
Police also declined to say why police converged on Clemens Lane in Myrtleford on Saturday.
The area is about 30 kilometres by road from the Porepunkah property where the shootings happened.
The BearCat led the convoy of police vehicles to Clemens Lane in Myrtleford on Saturday. (ABC News)
Around 450 police officers from Victoria have been involved in the search.
They have been joined by colleagues from New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia as they continue to scour dense, rocky bushland around the Porepunkah region, including on the slopes of Mount Buffalo.
On Saturday, police announced they were moving their search headquarters from a winery they had taken over since Tuesday to a government facility in the town of Ovens, about 10 kilometres away.
Police have moved their forward command post to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in Ovens. (ABC News)
The search had been organised from Feathertop Winery for the past five days. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
“The new site is a fit-for-purpose facility and will best support Victoria Police’s operational activity moving forward,” a statement said.
“We would like to reassure the community that police are not leaving the area.”
Locals have been told they would continue to see police activity in and around the Porepunkah and Alpine communities.
Aerial resources have also been based out of the winery since Tuesday. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Official emergency advice continued to describe Dezi Freeman as being armed and dangerous, and urges travel in the area be “restricted to essential activities only”.
Emergency texts were being sent to mobile phones in towns across the region, urging locals to remain vigilant.
Despite the messaging and pleas from senior police to re-think weekend plans, the town of Bright was busy on Saturday with skiers and snowboarders heading to Mount Hotham and Falls Creek.
Mount Buffalo National Park remained closed.
The Victorian Alps received a major dump of snow during a severe weather system that passed across the region on Friday night into Saturday morning.
The weather across the search ground has included destructive winds, heavy rain, hail and snow on Mount Buffalo.
The weather around Porepunkah cleared on Saturday after blizzards dumped snow on Mount Buffalo. (ABC News)
The streets of Porepunkah remain quiet despite local businesses reopening. (ABC News: Annie Brown)
Businesses in the town of Porepunkah have re-opened after being shut for most of the week to keep the community safe.
But the streets remained quiet on what would usually be a bustling weekend full of travellers.
Café owner Jacob Hanna has appealed for state government support to help businesses that have lost income.
“You can sustain it for a little period but eventually we need customers,” he said.
Jacob Hanna says he’s worried about the loss of income at Porepunkah cafe. (ABC News)
Police have vowed to remain at Porepunkah until Mr Freeman was apprehended.
But resources could be stretched on Sunday with large protests planned for Melbourne.