Two Phoenix Police Officers Fired and Arrested After Violent Traffic Stop

Two Phoenix police officers have been fired and arrested following an unreported late-night traffic stop on August 5, during which authorities say they assaulted a man and a woman and used a Taser on them. Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano announced the arrests of officers Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez during a Saturday news conference, according to reporting from The Associated Press.

Detectives confirmed that the two former officers physically assaulted both victims during the stop and deployed a Taser against them, Giordano stated. The officers failed to report the incident and did not activate their body-worn cameras. According to Phoenix police statements, the male driver and female passenger reported that the officers smashed their car window during the encounter.

Vasquez punched the male driver and threatened to shoot him, while the female passenger was removed from the vehicle and handcuffed, police records show. The male driver managed to drive away from the scene and abandoned the vehicle in neighboring Tempe, while the woman was released at the scene.

Investigation and Discovery by Tempe Police

The incident came to light after a Tempe police officer responded to the abandoned vehicle and asked over dispatch whether it had fled from any neighboring agencies, learning it had not. The Tempe officer contacted the vehicle’s registered owner—the mother of the male driver—and subsequently connected with both victims.

The female passenger told the Tempe officer that both occupants had been shocked with a Taser, while the male driver reported being punched in the face multiple times while repeatedly asking why they were stopped. The responding Tempe officer initially suspected an attempted carjacking by individuals impersonating police officers, noting the encounter in a police report.

Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano admitted he had a similar reaction upon first learning of the incident, describing it as entirely outside department policy. Detectives subsequently transitioned the case to a special investigations detail after determining Phoenix officers might be involved. Investigators used automatic vehicle locator technology to place a city vehicle at the reported location around the time of the stop.

Legal Status and Department History

Felix and Vasquez face multiple charges, including aggravated assault and kidnapping. Vasquez had served eight years with the Phoenix Police Department, while Felix had served nine years, according to department figures. Giordano noted that both officers had previous policy violations, though nothing comparable to the current charges.

Dave Evans, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, stated that Vasquez had been released from custody, while Felix remained incarcerated at the Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix. Attempts by The Associated Press to identify defense attorneys for the former officers were unsuccessful. The officers have a court appearance scheduled for Friday, as the department’s internal investigation and audit continue.