CHP officer injured in Ben Lomond ambush, carjacking incident returns to work

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) CHP Officer Estey has returned to work after he was injured in an incident in Ben Lomond that killed Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and injured Deputy Alex Spencer with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

The CHP said Estey was injured by gunfire.

When he returned to work, Estey was presented with a new tactical vest from Larry Griffin with the Fallen Officer's Foundation for his heroism.

On June 6, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a suspicious van with guns and bomb-making materials inside. While investigating, Gutzwiller was shot and killed. Spencer was shot, hit with shrapnel and hit by a car. The bullet hit his bullet-proof vest, and he has returned to work.

Agencies from around the Central Coast and beyond responded to help, and Officer Estey was injured.

After the ambush, the suspect, Steven Carrillo, allegedly carjacked one person and attempted to carjack others before a community member took him to the ground.