Cop on Paid Leave After Allegedly Tickling Body of Man Killed by Police

A California police officer has been placed on paid leave after he allegedly tickled and tampered with the dead body of a man who was shot and killed by police, according to the New York Daily News.

Lawyer Mark Geragos told the NYDN that the Bakersfield, California officer, Aaron Stringer, pulled on Ramiro James Villegas‘s toes and said “tickle tickle” while touching Villegas’s feet. He also allegedly told a trainee probationary officer that he “loved” to play with dead bodies, and tried opening Villegas’s mouth, according to KBAK.

“We are grossly disturbed by the ghoulish behavior of the police,” Geragos told the NYDN. “The family wants answers and accountability.”

The Bakersfield Californian newspaper published an internal report on Friday which detailed the allegations. Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Williamson called Stringer’s alleged comments “disturbing,” placing him on paid leave. According to that newspaper, the alleged incident occurred at a hospital as Villegas’s body was laying on a gurney.

According to the Californian, Villegas was killed following a police chase during which he slammed into a light pole and “approached [police] in an aggressive manner and reached toward [an officer’s] front waistband.”

Watch the report below, via KBAK:

[Image via screengrab]

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