Two Phoenix Officers Arrested, Terminated Over Violent Traffic Stop
Two Phoenix police officers arrested, terminated for felony charges related to violent unreported traffic stop with deactivated body cameras.
Event / Security
Phoenix Police Officers Arrested
Two Phoenix police officers were arrested and fired for conducting an unreported violent traffic stop in August, during which they allegedly assaulted a driver and passenger with punches, threats to shoot, and Tasers. Both officers face multiple felony charges including aggravated assault and kidnapping.
2 reported locations
Daily activity
1 articles0 articles
2026-08-24 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 24 Aug, 07:34 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
Police officers failed to activate body cameras during traffic stop
Officers Vasquez and Felix did not activate their body-worn cameras during the August 5 traffic stop, resulting in no video evidence of the incident. Investigators relied on automatic vehicle locator technology, victim statements, and other evidence to establish probable cause for the criminal charges.
Two Phoenix police officers arrested on felony charges for violent unreported traffic stop
Former Phoenix police officers Luis Vasquez Jr. and Antonio Felix were arrested and charged with multiple felonies including aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, threatening and intimidating, causing criminal damage, and tampering with evidence. The charges relate to an unreported traffic stop on August 5 during which they allegedly assaulted a male driver and female passenger with punches, threats, and a Taser stun gun.
Officer threatened victims with warning after release
According to the report, one of the officers allegedly warned the female passenger, "We know where you live now," after releasing her at the scene.
Officers had prior policy violations but nothing of this nature
Police Chief Giordano stated that both Vasquez and Felix had previously violated department policy but that those violations were "nothing of this nature." Vasquez had served eight years with Phoenix police while Felix had served nine years.
Male driver and female passenger assaulted with Taser and punches
During the unreported traffic stop, the officers allegedly smashed the car window, punched the male driver multiple times, threatened to shoot him, and shocked both victims with a Taser stun gun. The female passenger was handcuffed and pushed face-down to the ground. After escaping, the male driver abandoned the vehicle in neighboring Tempe.
Vasquez released from custody; Felix remains incarcerated
After their arrests, Luis Vasquez was released from custody while Antonio Felix remained incarcerated at the Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix.
Officers held on $100,000 bail each following bond hearing
A judge ordered both Vasquez and Felix to be held on $100,000 bond each following a bond hearing on Saturday. A prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office argued they posed a danger to the community and were flight risks.
Officers placed on administrative leave during investigation
Officers Vasquez and Felix were placed on administrative leave on August 13 as the investigation into the traffic stop incident continued.
Two Phoenix police officers terminated from department
Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano fired both former officers Luis Vasquez Jr. and Antonio Felix from the Phoenix Police Department following their arrest and charges related to the violent traffic stop.
Tempe officer initially suspected attempted carjacking by impersonators
When responding to the abandoned vehicle in Tempe, the officer initially believed the male driver and female passenger were victims of an attempted carjacking by people impersonating police officers, based on their account of the traffic stop.
Police investigating whether other individuals were involved
Phoenix Police Chief Giordano stated that a wider investigation was being conducted to determine if other individuals were involved and to identify any broader systemic concerns within the department.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives