Two Phoenix police officers have been dismissed from the department and arrested following an alleged violent traffic stop that was never formally reported. Authorities say the officers assaulted a man and woman, used a Taser during the encounter and failed to activate their body-worn cameras.
Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez are facing criminal charges that include aggravated assault and kidnapping. Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano said investigators determined there was probable cause to believe the officers committed the alleged offenses despite the absence of body-camera footage.
Officers Accused of Assault During Traffic Stop
The incident occurred late on Aug. 5 in Phoenix. According to investigators, the two officers stopped a vehicle carrying a male driver and a female passenger.
The occupants told authorities that the officers broke a window during the encounter. Vasquez allegedly punched the male driver and threatened him with a firearm, while the woman was taken from the vehicle and handcuffed.
Authorities also say both victims were shocked with a Taser.
The male driver eventually managed to leave the scene in the vehicle before abandoning it in nearby Tempe. The woman was released at the location.
The incident initially appeared so unusual that a Tempe police officer who responded to the abandoned vehicle suspected the couple may have encountered individuals impersonating police officers.
Investigation Led Detectives to Phoenix Officers
The case changed direction after investigators connected the incident to Phoenix police. The department’s special investigations team examined available evidence, including vehicle-location data that placed a police vehicle at the reported location around the time of the encounter.
Police said neither officer reported the traffic stop, and neither activated a body-worn camera.
Chief Giordano said the conduct described by investigators was far outside department policies. He also said there was no evidence indicating that the officers knew the two people involved before the stop.
Felix and Vasquez had worked for the Phoenix Police Department for nine and eight years, respectively. The chief said both had previous policy violations, although he emphasized that their earlier disciplinary issues were not comparable to the allegations now under investigation.
Criminal Case and Department Review Continue
Maricopa County authorities said Vasquez was released from custody, while Felix remained at the Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix as of Sunday. Attempts to identify attorneys representing the officers were unsuccessful.
The Phoenix Police Department said its criminal investigation and internal audit remain ongoing. The two former officers are scheduled to appear in court Friday.
The case is drawing attention to police accountability, body-camera requirements and oversight of law-enforcement conduct during traffic stops. Further investigative findings could provide additional details about what happened during the encounter and whether any other policy violations occurred.
