Former Phoenix officers admit involvement in violent traffic stop, court docs say

Key Points:

• Two former Phoenix police officers, Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez Jr., were fired and arrested for a violent traffic stop involving multiple felony charges such as aggravated assault, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence.
• Court documents allege the officers used excessive force during the stop, including punching the driver, using a Taser multiple times on the passenger, threatening to shoot the driver, and making intimidating remarks.
• Both officers admitted to some actions during the incident but claimed they believed they were stopping a drunk driver; neither activated body cameras, called for backup, nor followed proper reporting procedures.
• At their initial court appearance, both officers were held on $100,000 secured bonds with electronic monitoring conditions; prosecutors highlighted numerous violations of police department policies.
• A criminal defense attorney noted the lack of body camera footage and procedural adherence could be seen by jurors as evidence of guilt, while neighbors expressed concern and skepticism about police conduct.