However, family of Villegas said they are close to filing a suit of their own

Stringer, who was put on leave, was

Accused: Officer Aaron Stringer, from Bakersfield, California, allegedly pulled on the toes and 'tickled' the feet of a man whom police had recently killed

A police officer who allegedly 'loves playing with dead bodies' has been accused of 'tickling' the feet and yanking on the head and toes of a dead man who had been recently shot killed by cops.

Aaron Stringer, of the Bakersfield, California, Police Department, reportedly said 'tickle tickle' as he ran his fingers along the soles of the feet of Ramiro James Villegas, a 22-year-old whom officers killed the same day.

A trainee police officer who was with him at the time told how Stringer then pulled on the corpse's toes, and pulled his head back and forth while discussing rigor mortis after the shooting on November 13.

According to the Bakersfield Californian, he then said that he 'loves playing with dead bodies' and later told her to lie about what she'd seen.

Stringer has been on paid administrative leave from the department since it started investigating the chilling accusations in November.

Villegas was shot dead by police after crashing his car in a high-speed chase, ABC23 reported.

Officers say they gunned him down after he got out of the car and reached for his waistband, raising fears that he had a gun. It later became clear that he wasn't armed.

Stringer, who filed a police report about the day's activities, mentioned interviewing witnesses alongside trainee Lindy DeGeare, who eventually blew the whistle on the alleged corpse manipulation.

Shot dead: Ramiro James Villegas, 22, had been shot dead on November 13 by Bakersfield Police after a car chase. Stringer allegedly 'played' with his body as it lay under a bloodied sheet

Let in: Stringer was allowed to see the body by a nurse at the Kern Medical Center, above

She said Stringer volunteered them to head to the Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield to help identify the body.

It was there that a nurse gave them the passcode to the morgue where Villegas was being held.

She said that when Stringer suggested she take a look at the body, she presumed it was part of legitimate training. Under California law, police officers are allowed to look at dead bodies to assess wounds, but are not supposed to handle them.

According to the Bakersfield California, local prosecutors considered charging Stringer but dropped the case due to insufficient evidence.

He is currently being investigated internally by the police department. A lawyer for the Villegas family said they are also 'very close' to filing a suit of their own.