The significant police presence associated with the operation sparked troublesome rumours, with some community members speculating that the police hunt for accused Porepunkah gunman Desmond Freeman had reached our region.
Police were actually in pursuit of a Toyota Hilux 4WD reported stolen from Finley last Wednesday, October 29.
The following morning, around 10.30am, the vehicle was allegedly involved in a short pursuit with Victoria Police near Echuca, before crossing the Murray River at Moama.
The pursuit was monitored by Polair from Victoria, which continued tracking the vehicle as it moved through Moama, Thyra, and Mathoura.
Officers from the Murray River Police District attempted to intercept the vehicle on Meninya St, Moama, but the driver failed to stop, prompting a pursuit that was later terminated due to safety concerns.
Despite the termination, Polair continued to monitor the vehicle’s movements.
A short time later, it was spotted under a bridge on Millewa Rd, Mathoura, but when police approached, the driver fled at high speed, triggering another pursuit, which was again called off for safety reasons.
The vehicle was later tracked through Tocumwal and back toward Mathoura, with the driver managing to avoid road spikes on two occasions.
The final pursuit led through Murray Valley National Park (Millewa section), where the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into dense bushland.
He was arrested shortly after with the help of the Dog Squad and taken to Deniliquin Police Station.
Picnic Point, Mathoura resident Paula Davidson said she was initially perplexed by the heightened police presence.
“I was coming home from Deniliquin when two cop cars raced past me,” she said.
“I saw them packing up road spikes, and then saw them again when I was getting into Picnic Point.”
As the operation was taking place, speculation was circulating through the community suggesting police had received information that Freeman might be hiding in the Murray Valley National Park.
Freeman is wanted in connection to the shooting death of two police officers in Porepunkah on Tuesday, August 26.
The Southern Riverina News also heard reports military agencies might have been involved in the operation.
Both rumours were denied by Murray River Police District last Thursday evening, but no details could be provided at the time.
NSW Police did not release any formal details about the incident until 4am Friday.
The man arrested in Mathoura was charged with nine offences.
This included drive conveyance taken without consent of owner; police pursuit – not stop; drive dangerously, drive while disqualified; police pursuit – not stop; drive recklessly; drive under influence of alcohol; refuse or fail to submit to a breath test; commit Section 114 offence having previous conviction; use unauthorised number plate; and goods in custody suspected of being stolen.
He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on Friday, where he was again refused bail.
He is next due to appear in Deniliquin Court on November 11.
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