Overview
- Phoenix Police arrested and fired Officers Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez Jr. after interviews on Aug. 22 that detectives say produced additional evidence tying them to the Aug. 5 stop.
- The two face multiple felony counts including aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, felony assault, threatening and intimidating, hindering prosecution, and tampering with evidence.
- Tempe police initially alerted Phoenix after a Tempe officer found a disabled vehicle and victim statements describing a chaotic stop in south Phoenix where a Taser, punches, hair-pulling and a threatened shooting were reported.
- Phoenix officials say the officers did not file required force reports and did not activate their body-worn cameras for the encounter, violations that prompted the separate internal administrative review.
- The case will proceed through criminal prosecution with evidence and victim interviews held by Tempe police influencing the record, while the police union has said it supports the department’s decision to fire the officers but still expects due process.