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PHOENIX (KNXV) — Two Phoenix officers under criminal investigation for a violent and unreported traffic stop have been arrested and fired, the Phoenix Police Department announced Saturday.
ABC15 first confirmed the arrests of Officers Luis Vasquez Jr. and Antonio Felix through multiple sources.
Police say Officers Vasquez Jr. and Felix stopped a vehicle on Aug. 5 at around 11:30 p.m. in the area of 19th Avenue and Broadway Road and proceeded to use force on a man and woman.
The traffic stop was not reported, and there was no body-worn camera activation, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
“Detectives have confirmed that the two former officers physically assaulted both the man and woman during the traffic stop. The investigation also shows that a taser was used on the victims during the traffic stop,” Phoenix Chief of Police Matt Giordano said.
Both officers were arrested on several felony charges, including:
Aggravated assault
Aggravated robbery
Kidnapping
Felony assault involving a bound and otherwise physically restrained individual
Threatening and intimidating
Criminal damage
Hindering prosecution
Tampering with evidence
ABC15 also received an email that was sent to department staff.
While officials state there is no video evidence showing the assault, Giordano says they have proof both were in their city vehicle through AVL technology (automatic vehicle locator system) and were able to confirm that they were in their traditional police uniform.
Both officers gave voluntary statements in the presence of their attorney.
Both officers were placed on administrative leave on Aug. 13, according to authorities.
There is no indication the officers knew the victims involved.
The Professional Standards Bureau will move forward to identify any other individuals involved and determine whether there are broader systemic concerns.
“No community members should suffer what happened here. We recognize this erodes community trust, and I am committed to rebuilding that trust starting today,” Giordano said.
Vasquez Jr. and Felix first appeared before a judge late Saturday night.
“Your Honor, these offenses were committed by on-duty police officers in a fully marked Phoenix police Tahoe,” said Tom Van Dorn with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Van Dorn said they believe both men are a danger to the community and the victims, along with a flight risk.
Vasquez Jr. and Felix were ordered to be held on a $100,000 secured appearance bond. If released, they will have wear a GPS monitor.
ABC15 confirmed Sunday that Vasquez Jr. had bonded out of custody, while Felix remains behind bars.
The criminal investigation into Vasquez Jr. and Felix began after Tempe police received a call about a disabled vehicle.
See previous ABC15 Investigator coverage of the incident in the player above.
According to a police report released by Tempe police earlier this week, the city’s officers spoke to one of the car’s passengers who escaped and reported being assaulted during a violent and chaotic traffic stop in south Phoenix.
A Tempe officer found the man’s story so concerning that he thought it had to have been done by criminals posing as police officers and reported it to Phoenix for further investigation.
Sources told ABC15 that’s how Phoenix figured out it could have been two of its own officers who conducted the unreported stop.
Both officers worked out of the South Mountain Precinct.
No other officers are on leave.
One officer had been with the Phoenix Police Department for eight years, and the other for nine years. According to Giordano, both officers had prior “policy violations.”
As of now, the motive behind the traffic stop is unclear.
The officers will be transferred to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Saturday evening.
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