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Phoenix Officers Accused of Violent, Unreported Traffic Stop
27 Aug
Summary
- Two ex-Phoenix officers face felony charges for a violent, undocumented traffic stop.
- Officers allegedly used a stun gun 29 times and a firearm during the unlawful encounter.
- A timely tip and recovered phone may have exposed the officers' attempted cover-up.
Two former Phoenix police officers, Luis Vasquez Jr. and Antonio Felix, are facing felony charges for a violent traffic stop that occurred on August 5th. Arrest documents reveal that the officers allegedly terrorized a couple, with Vasquez punching the driver multiple times and pointing his firearm. Felix reportedly used a stun gun on the driver's girlfriend and the driver repeatedly, with the device being deployed 29 times.
The officers are accused of deliberately failing to document or report the stop. Investigators believe Vasquez and Felix attempted to conceal their actions by retrieving items left at the scene, including the woman's phone, which they did not attempt to preserve. Neither officer activated their body cameras, and no incident reports were filed, leading to the stop being described as "off-the-books."
Their attempts to hide the encounter included misleading Tempe police about a disabled vehicle. The situation might have remained concealed had the driver's mother not been on the phone with Tempe police when her son's girlfriend reported the violent stop. Both officers have been arrested and fired, with Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano promising further investigation into potential systemic issues.
Prosecutors have charged Vasquez and Felix with multiple offenses, including kidnapping, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy. Vasquez faces additional charges of aggravated assault and criminal damage. They have since been released on bond and are awaiting a grand jury indictment.
