2 Former Phoenix Officers Admit Role in Violent Stop, Face $100,000 Bonds

Q: Why did neighboring police initially mistake a real Phoenix police traffic stop for a violent carjacking by armed impersonators?

Neighboring police mistook it for a violent carjacking by armed impersonators because, at the time, every outward sign of a legitimate Phoenix traffic stop was missing while the victims’ account sounded like a criminal attack. Tempe officers found the driver’s disabled or abandoned car and checked with surrounding agencies to see whether it had fled from a police stop. Dispatch reported that no agency, including Phoenix, had any record of stopping it. That was a critical factor, because the two Phoenix officers allegedly never called in the stop, never requested backup, never notified a supervisor, never activated body cameras, and never filed a report. The victims then described being pulled over by men in an SUV using lights and siren, only to be punched, tased, threatened with a gun, and forced from the car. One victim said the suspects warned, “We know where you live now.” With no official radio traffic or paperwork to confirm police involvement, that account closely matched what officers would expect from police impersonators committing a carjacking or robbery. Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano said he initially had a similar reaction because the conduct was so far outside department policy. Investigators only later tied the encounter to real Phoenix officers by piecing together evidence, including automatic vehicle locator data that placed a Phoenix police vehicle at the scene when the victims said the attack occurred.

3 articles · Updated · Arizona's Family · Aug 23

Newly released court papers say Antonio Felix, 31, and Luis Vasquez Jr., 31, admitted key parts of an Aug. 5 traffic stop that led to their firing, arrest and multiple felony charges.
Prosecutors allege the pair used an unmarked Tahoe to follow a Dodge Charger, rammed its rear bumper, broke a window, repeatedly punched the driver and used a Taser 29 times on the passenger and driver.
Vasquez acknowledged punching the driver, pulling his hair and drawing his gun to threaten a shooting, while Felix said the stop escalated quickly but offered no corroborating evidence, according to the filings.
Neither officer activated a body camera, called for backup, reported the use of force or notified a supervisor; Vasquez told investigators he skipped those steps for fear of consequences from policy violations.
A judge set secured appearance bonds at $100,000 each with electronic monitoring if released, as prosecutors build a case around aggravated assault, kidnapping, evidence tampering and related counts.