After Traffic Stop, Phoenix Cops End Up in Own Jail

Two Phoenix patrol officers are now ex-cops and jail inmates after what their chief called "egregious criminal conduct" during a traffic stop. Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano said Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez Jr. were fired and arrested after investigators concluded they assaulted a man and woman during an Aug. 5 stop and later tried to cover up what happened, per AZFamily. The allegations are alarming. Prosecutors say the officers broke the vehicle's window, used Tasers on both victims, and brutally beat the man, announcing he would "probably" be shot. After letting the pair go, the officers allegedly took a call about their abandoned car and tried to muddy the case.

Based on the victims' report, the department allegedly first suspected two men impersonating police officers. Felix and Vasquez allegedly denied any contact. But suspicions were raised, and the case was forwarded to special investigations, Giordano said, per WBAL. He said there was no indication the officers knew the victims. Prosecutors say neither activated their body cameras or reported the traffic stop in any way. Felix had been with the department for nine years and Vasquez for eight. The pair face charges including kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, and evidence tampering. Each had bond set at $100,000, with electronic monitoring if released.