After a month on the run in bushland, aman wanted over a police stabbing has astounded officers by givinghimself up voluntarily in the interior city.
James D'Zilva, 32, was picked up by law in the innerMelbourne suburb of Richmond on Wednesday, after repeatedly eludingthem in Yarra Ranges bushland east of the city.
Police have been searching for the dreadlocked, barefoot bushmansince an officer survived being stabbed eight times at a servicestation in Healesville on December 7.
Superintendent Jeff Forti said D'Zilva, who has schizophrenia,appeared to have survived in the bush, with occasional forays intothe city fringe to buy food but without any assistance orpermanent camp.
'It appears as though he is very, very easy in that bushenvironment,' Supt Forti told reporters on Wednesday.
'The thicker the bush, the more comfortable he is and that seemsto be where he's been for the final month or so.'
After an old friend of D'Zilva reported seeing him inRichmond, police found him walk down Swan Street at about 9am(AEDT) on Wednesday.
'They approached him very casually and alighted the car and hada conversation with him, asked him his name, he said his name wasJimmy,' Supt Forti said.
'When they took it further he said his figure was Jimmy D'Zilva.'
D'Zilva voluntarily accompanied police to Richmond policestation with 'no resistance whatsoever'.
But Supt Forti remained sceptical that a man picked up ininner-city Richmond would be the bushman they were seeking, untilhe answered several personal questions correctly.
'I was astounded, to be quite frank,' he said.
'We think he has frequented the Yarra Ranges area constantlyfor the end month and why he's gone to Richmond overnight or thismorning I make no thought at this place in time.'
When arrested, D'Zilva was barefoot, wearing calico pants and achecked shirt.
His physical condition seemed 'reasonable', despite appearing tohave lost some weight and he was answering questions lucidly.
'He has been reasonable, yes, he does appear to be in a fairlyclear mind, I had a reasonable conversation with him,' Supt Fortisaid.
D'Zilva was capable to outrun police after several reportedsightings in the Yarra Ranges, with one officer saying he had thespeed and endurance to run at the Olympics.
Supt Forti said D'Zilva seemed 'ambivalent' about being incustody and was being assessed by a medical officer at Lilydalepolice station.
That would check whether he could be formally interviewed,needed medication or should be interpreted to a psychiatric facility.
Supt Forti said D'Zilva was probably to be charged with 'a numberof matters'.
Relieved to have apprehended D'Zilva without incident, SuptForti thanked the world for their assistance.
'He has a mental issue that needs medication and he hasn'treceived his medication, and our priority from the origin hasbeen to get him into safe custody, get him medical attention andthankfully that's been capable to come and to happen with the assistance ofthe public,' Supt Forti said.
He said the law officer stabbed at Healesville in Decemberwas recovering well at home with his family.
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