Desmond Freeman is a self-identified sovereign citizen.
Photo: ABC / Supplied
Two people have been arrested in relation to the Porepunkah shooting, which killed two police officers in Australia.
Desmond Freeman is accused of shooting dead the two police officers in Victoria’s north-east. The 56-year-old, also known as Dezi Freeman, remains on the run.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, were killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah, Victoria on Tuesday.
Victoria Police said two people have been taken into custody on Thursday night as part of their investigation into the shooting.
Fugitive Squad detectives, along with Special Operations Group members, attended a Porepunkah address about 8.40pm on Thursday.
Victoria Police said a 42-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy were safely arrested at the address and taken into custody.
The pair were interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
On Wednesday, the police said the suspect’s partner and children attended a police station on Tuesday evening.
A third officer, a 56-year-old male detective leading senior constable, remains in hospital after being shot in the lower body. He is reportedly in a stable condition.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson (left) and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart were shot and died at the scene in rural Victoria.
Photo: Supplied / Victoria Police
The officers were part of a group of 10 members who were attacked while executing a search warrant at a Rayner Track property.
Extensive searches remain ongoing for the offender, whose location remains unknown, police said.
Weather a concern
Police are worried an imminent blizzard could hamper the hunt.
Weather conditions are expected to worsen in the coming days, with temperatures plummeting.
A severe weather warning has been issued for the area, with blizzards forecast for parts of the ranges where Freeman is believed to be hiding out.
Freeman is a self-identified “sovereign citizen” and has had multiple run-ins with the law.
He once called police “terrorist thugs” and was involved in an attempt to have former Premier Daniel Andrews tried for treason, the ABC reported.
Freeman is believed to be armed with guns and the public are urged not to approach him, police said.