Santa Cruz Co. Deputy Killed In Ben Lomond Shooting, Explosions

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was killed Saturday afternoon after he walked into an ambush of gunfire and explosives while responding to a call in Ben Lomond, Sheriff Jim Hart said.

Steven Carrillo of Ben Lomond has been arrested in connection with the incident, Hart said.

Gutzwiller, who was remembered by Hart as compassionate and caring, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office are investigating the case, hesaid.

"Today we lost one of our own," Hart said. "He was a true hero."

Another deputy was hospitalized after he was either shot or struck with bomb shrapnel, Hart said. Carrillo also struck that deputy with a car as Carrillo drove out of a driveway, Hart said.

The sheriff's office is hopeful that the deputy will recover, Hart said.

A California Highway Patrol officer was also shot in the hand.

After Gutzwiller was shot, Carrillo interacted with CHP officers and ran away, Hart said. He carjacked a car and attempted another carjacking after that, Hart said.

Carrillo was shot during his arrest and remains in the hospital, Hart said. Carrillo has not yet been booked, but will face multiple felonies included charges related to murder, assault with a deadly weapon and carjacking, Hart said.

The attacks came after a caller reported at 1:30 p.m. a suspicious van parked in a turnout near Jamison Creek Road in Boulder Creek, Hart said. The caller said they saw guns and bomb-making devices inside.

Deputies saw the van leaving the area when they arrived and found the car at a Waldeburg Road home in Ben Lomond, Hart said.

Law enforcement officers were met with gunfire and multiple improvised explosives, he said. It's unclear what weapons were used in the attack.

Law enforcement officers still have multiple searches to conduct in connection with the case, Hart said. Officers will remain on scene doing crime scene work for the next few days.

Officers are still trying to determine whether other people were involved, Hart said.

Investigators have a lot of work to do and the sheriff's office will provide updates when it learns more, he said.

All law enforcement agencies in the county responded to the scene, Scotts Valley Police said on Facebook. The public was initially advised to stay away from the area of Highway 9 and Alba Road.

Gutzwiller will be honored with a vigil at 2:26 p.m. Sunday — when the "officer down" call came Saturday, Hart said. The vigil will be held at the flag pole in front of the sheriff's office at 5200 Soquel Avenue.

A 'Beloved Figure' Memorialized

Gutzwiller, a patrol sergeant, was married with a young child and another on the way, Hart said. He started out with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office as a volunteer and has served the sheriff's office since 2006.

"I watched him grow into a great man and a great police officer," said Hart, who addressed reporters Saturday night with a black band over his badge — a symbol of mourning a fallen officer.

Gutzwiller was a beloved figure in the department whose legacy will live on in the service the sheriff's office provides to the community, Hart said.

The sheriff's office extolled Gutzwiller as a "courageous, intelligent, sensitive and a caring man" in a written statement.

"Words cannot express the pain we feel for Damon and his family," Hart said in the statement. "He was the kind of person we all hope to be. Today, we lost a hero. We are grateful to have known him and we mourn with his family."

Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement late Saturday, offering condolences to Gutzwiller's family, friends and coworkers.

"He will be remembered as a hero who devoted his life to protecting the community and as a loving husband and father," Newsom said.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office has not seen an officer killed in the line of duty since Deputy Michael Gray's death in 1983, Hart said. Gray was shot in Felton — blocks away from his own home — while responding to a suspicious person call. He succumbed to his injuries 10 days later.

Watch the news conference below:

Patch staffer Courtney Teague contributed to this report.