2 Phoenix police officers fired, arrested after violent traffic stop

Two Phoenix police officers, Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez, have been terminated and arrested following a violent traffic stop in which they allegedly assaulted a man and woman and used a Taser on them, according to Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano. Both officers are facing charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping. The investigation revealed that the officers physically attacked both victims during the stop and shocked them with a Taser, which was not activated by the police department.

They did not report the incident and failed to activate their body-worn cameras. Their initial court appearance saw a judge set a $100,000 secured appearance bond for each defendant, with electronic monitoring required if released. Their next court date is set for Friday. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Vasquez was released from custody while Felix remained in jail.

The officers admitted to the incident, and there is no video evidence or indication that the victims knew the officers. The police chief expressed shock at the officers' actions, stating that it was far outside the bounds of department policies. The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, the local police union, expressed deep concern over the alleged conduct, stating that if proven, it would represent a significant breach of the public trust.