2 Phoenix officers arrested following violent traffic stop

PHOENIX - Two Phoenix Police officers were arrested following a violent traffic stop earlier this month. 

What we know:

Officers Luis Vazquez, Jr. and Antonio Felix conducted a traffic stop in South Phoenix at around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 5. The department said force was used and "not reported as required by policy, including the failure to activate their body-worn cameras," according to a statement from Aug. 17. 

A criminal investigation was launched into the allegations on Aug, 13 by the Tempe Police Department and the officers were placed on leave.

Chief Matt Giordano arrested Vazquez and Felix, and fired them following interviews on Aug. 22. The Phoenix Police Department confirmed the former cops physically assaulted the man and woman in the traffic stop. Officials said there was no indication the former officers knew the victims, or that the victims knew the officers.

The incident stemmed from a police car being found in Tempe.

Tempe Police's Report

A Tempe Police report revealed that a couple had been pulled over near 19th Avenue and Broadway Road by two men in a white SUV. The former cops allegedly tried forcing open the couple's doors before they smashed the driver's side window. A suspect opened the passenger side door, put a woman "in an arm bar" as she held onto the driver, before the suspect used a Taser to the passenger's right thigh, according to the report. One of the suspects allegedly told the other to out a stun gun "on a higher setting" on her back.

The couple was reportedly handcuffed. Tempe police said the woman was left on a sidewalk, while the driver was assaulted for six minutes, including being Tased and punched "in the head with a closed dist multiple times." According to the report, a suspect "pulled pieces" of the driver's hair out, while waving his gun around. The driver reportedly mentioned the suspect said "he was going to shoot him in three seconds and began counting down."

The driver fled in his vehicle and later abandoned it in Tempe after it overheated. A Tempe officer found the vehicle. Tempe Police originally thought the cops were people impersonating their police officers, but it happened in Phoenix officers. 

"Very thankful to the Tempe Police Department for getting involved in this and making us aware of it," the chief said. 

Dig deeper:

Chief Giordano said the allegations are serious and do not reflect the department's standards or values.

"We must, and we will, continue to hold any officers involved in misconduct or criminal activity accountable," Giordano said. "Accountability is our priority."

On Aug., 17, Phoenix Police said force was used during a traffic stop that night, but the officers did not report it and failed to activate their body-worn cameras.

What they're saying:

"Their actions severely undermine trust in law enforcement and violate the standards we expect from those who serve. Many people want to understand how this could happen. There is no excuse for the conduct that these two officers engaged in. My commitment is not limited to the criminal investigation. This will not stop here tonight," Chief Giordano said on Aug. 22. "The Professional Standards Bureau will move forward to identify if any other individuals are involved and determine whether there are broader systemic concerns. Our Organizational Integrity Bureau has already begun its audits and any findings related to unacceptable behavior will be addressed accordingly. When we become aware of misconduct, we take action and we hold officers accountable. No community members should suffer what happened here. We recognize this erodes community trust, and I am committed to rebuilding that trust starting today."

What's next:

Vazquez and Feliz were charged with aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, felony assault involving bound or otherwise physically restrained individual, threatening and intimidating, criminal damage, hindering prosecution, and tampering with evidence.

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