Sheriff's sergeant killed in weekend ambush in Northern California will be recognized

SMITHFIELD, N.C. - June 9, 2020 - PRLog -- Shield Republic Charities announced today that their latest Hold the Line apparel fundraiser commemorating fallen first responders will recognize the sacrifice of Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller, who was killed in the line of duty in an ambush last weekend in California.

Sgt. Gutzwiller, who served with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, fell amid a confrontation with a suspect armed with firearms and improvised explosive devices in Ben Lomond, California.

Sgt. Gutzwiller and other law enforcement professionals from the area were responding to a report on Saturday, June 6 of a suspicious van in Boulder Creek near Jamison Creek Road. The report indicated that the van contained firearms and explosive materials. As deputies arrived, the van began moving; they followed the driver to a Ben Lomond home, where he exited his vehicle and ambushed Gutzwiller and others with guns and explosives.

After being struck down, Sgt. Gutzwiller was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two of his colleagues were injured and are expected to recover. The suspect, Steven Carrillo, initially fled but was eventually captured, treated for gunshot wounds sustained in the ambush, and taken into custody. He faces murder charges.

Sgt. Gutzwiller was 38 years old. He had served with the Sheriff's Office for 14 years, most recently as a patrol supervisor. He is survived by his pregnant wife and one child.

Shield Republic Charities will run a "Hold the Line" apparel campaign to raise funds for Sgt. Gutzwiller through the sale of special t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, hoodies, ladies' tank tops and decals made in America. All net proceeds from the campaign will be donated to the Gutzwiller family.

"Sgt. Gutzwiller fell while serving his community bravely, and for that, our team at Shield Republic chose to honor him with a Hold the Line campaign," said Charlie Romero, spokesperson for Shield Republic. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gutzwiller family as well as the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office team in this time of loss."

View the Hold the Line fundraiser page for Sgt. Gutzwiller at https://www.shieldrepublic.com/products/100-donation-hold....

Shield Republic's Hold the Line fundraisers have donated more than $200,000 this year to the families and units of fallen first responders, police officers and K9 police dogs.

For more information about the Shield Republic Charities, contact charities@shieldrepublic.com.

About Shield Republic

Established in 2016, Shield Republic is an American lifestyle brand based outside Raleigh, North Carolina. The company offers creative, fresh apparel and merchandise embodying American pride. Everything sold by Shield Republic is designed and manufactured in the United States.