VERO BEACH — One of two women seen dancing atop a patrol car – leaving behind light damage – in widely circulated video footage, was jailed this week.
Police continue to search for the second woman involved.
Nikecia Aronda Norris turned herself in to the Indian River County Jail early Tuesday, Vero Beach police spokesman Master Officer Darrell Rivers said. Norris, 25, of the 3800 block of 44th Place, Gifford, was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
Nikecia Aronda Norris
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Norris was released Tuesday from the Indian River County Jail on $4,000 bond. Officers continue to look for Marquisa Ford, 30, of Hobe Sound, who they said was the second woman seen dancing on the Vero Beach police car.
Ford will also be charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, police said.
While nobody was hurt, officers said the police car has an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 in damages from dents and scratches to the hood, roof and trunk. Cell phone videos capturing the incident – which occurred under the Merrill P. Barber Bridge near Riverside Cafe – were posted on Facebook and Instagram.
The viral footage captured a Vero Beach officer – who was responding to a noise complaint – drive to a parking lot under the bridge. A crowd of up to 100 people had gathered at the parking lot for a party, police said.
As the patrol car slowed in speed, Norris climbed onto the hood and began “twerking” to music blasting from vehicles nearby. The crowd of partiers then surrounded the police car and began recording from their cell phones.
Marquisa Ford
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VERO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
The officer stopped the vehicle and tried to get out, but couldn’t because another woman leaned on the driver door and started dancing, reports show. Footage also showed Ford climbing onto the trunk of the police car and twerking, which is a sensual dance to Hip-Hop or pop music.
The policeman, along with another officer who responded to the scene, did not arrest anyone at the time. Officers were outnumbered and did not want to escalate the incident, police said.
Officers have since increased the presence of patrol cars under the bridge until further notice. Norris has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. Jan. 29, 2021, court records show.
