Two Phoenix Officers Dismissed and Charged Following Unreported Traffic Stop Incident
In a troubling incident, two Phoenix police officers have been dismissed and arrested after a traffic stop that was neither reported nor recorded, leading to allegations of assault and use of a Taser on a man and woman. Police Chief Matt Giordano shared the developments at a press conference, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges.
Officers Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez face charges that include aggravated assault and kidnapping. Giordano confirmed, “Detectives have confirmed that the two former officers physically assaulted both the man and woman during the traffic stop. The investigation also shows that a Taser was used on the victims during the stop.”
The incident, which occurred on August 5, was not documented by the officers, as they failed to activate their body cameras. Giordano noted the absence of video evidence but stated that sufficient probable cause has been established to believe the crimes were committed. There is no indication that the victims were known to the officers.
According to Dave Evans from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Vasquez has been released from custody while Felix remains detained at the Lower Buckeye Jail. Efforts to identify their defense attorneys for comments have not been successful.
The incident took place during a late-night traffic stop in Phoenix. As described by the Phoenix police, the officers smashed the car window of the vehicle carrying a male driver and a female passenger. Vasquez allegedly punched the driver and threatened him with a firearm, while the woman was forcibly removed and handcuffed.
While the man managed to flee the scene and abandon the car in Tempe, the woman was released on-site. A responding Tempe police officer, upon finding the abandoned vehicle, confirmed with dispatch that it had no connection to any police pursuits. The officer reached out to the car’s registered owner and connected with the passengers, learning from them that both had been subjected to Taser shocks. The male driver also reported being punched in the face multiple times and questioned the reason for the stop.
Initially suspecting a carjacking attempt by impersonators, the Tempe officer’s suspicions were echoed by Giordano, who found the incident to be “so far outside the bounds of our policies.” However, further investigation indicated the involvement of Phoenix officers, leading to a specialized investigation.
Giordano revealed that the automatic vehicle locator in city vehicles corroborated the victims’ accounts by placing a police vehicle at the scene during the reported time. Vasquez and Felix, who have eight and nine years of service respectively, have previously faced policy violations, though none as severe as the current allegations.
The Phoenix police department continues its investigation and audit, with the officers’ court appearance scheduled for Friday.
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