By Melissa Brown, ABC
The manhunt for Dezi Freeman is now in its sixth day in the region around Porepunkah, in Victoria's north-east. Photo: ABC News
The wife of alleged gunman Dezi Freeman has urged her husband to surrender and offered her condolences to the families of two police officers who were shot dead last week in regional Victoria.
In a statement provided via her lawyer, Amalia Freeman said she and her children wished to "share our deep sorrow for the loss of the lives of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart".
Freeman said she and her children "respect the important work of Victoria Police and do not hold anti-authority views".
"We echo the requests of the Victoria Police for the swift and safe conclusion of this tragedy," she said.
"I lend my full support to Victoria Police in their search for my husband and will co-operate with Victoria Police in any way that I can.
"Please Dezi, if you see or hear this, call 000 and arrange a surrender plan with the police."
The BearCat led the convoy of police vehicles to Clemens Lane in Myrtleford on Saturday. Photo: ABC News
Freeman also asked anyone who may be harbouring or helping Freeman to contact police.
Police charge man with weapons, drug offences
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 have moved their forward command post to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in Ovens. Photo: ABC News
Police allege Freeman shot three police officers who were executing a warrant at his Porepunkah property, killing Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable De Waart, and injuring a third officer.
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.
The search had been organised from Feathertop Winery for the past five days. Photo: ABC News / Danielle Bonica
He was bailed to appear before Myrtleford Magistrates' Court on 3 October.
Police have not revealed whether the man was associated with Freeman.
"This forms part of an ongoing investigation," a Victoria Police spokesperson said on Sunday.
Aerial resources have also been based out of the winery since Tuesday. Photo: ABC News / Danielle Bonica
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 weather around Porepunkah cleared on Saturday after blizzards dumped snow on Mount Buffalo. Photo: 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.
"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.
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 streets of Porepunkah remain quiet despite local businesses reopening. Photo: ABC News / Annie Brown
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.
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. Photo: ABC News
Police have vowed to remain at Porepunkah until Freeman was apprehended.
But resources could be stretched on Sunday with large protests planned for Melbourne.
- ABC
