American rapper Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, and charged in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident involving a woman.
Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was taken into custody by Miami Beach police early Thursday and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., according to jail and court records.
The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. Both charges are classified as domestic violence-related offences.
According to an arrest affidavit, the case stems from an alleged incident at Ross’ Star Island residence in late August. Police said the incident was reported on September 29.
The woman told investigators that she had been in a relationship with Ross for about a year. She alleged that he became angry after seeing that she had been tagged in an Instagram photograph and accused her of being involved with another man.
According to the affidavit, she alleged that Ross slapped her and repeatedly struck her in the chest before grabbing the collar of her hoodie and twisting it around her neck, restricting her breathing.
She also alleged that he pulled her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face and pushing her to the floor.
The woman further alleged that Ross turned on the shower and attempted to spray her with the showerhead.
Ross’ attorney, Bradley Horenstein, has rejected the allegations and maintained that his client is innocent.
“The allegations are false,” Horenstein told CBS News Miami, urging the public to allow the legal process to take its course.
Ross voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach police before being taken into custody, according to authorities. He later appeared remotely in Miami-Dade bond court, where a judge found probable cause in the case.
The court set his bond at $5,000, comprising $4,000 for the battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor battery charge. Ross was also ordered to surrender firearms and was barred from possessing firearms while the case is pending.
His arraignment is scheduled for October 22.
The arrest follows separate public allegations by Ross’ former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, who recently accused the rapper of physically assaulting her.
Kendrick said in social media posts that Ross injured her lip during an incident she said occurred about a month earlier. She also shared photographs of an alleged injury and said she ended the relationship afterward.
It has not been established whether Kendrick’s allegations are connected to the criminal case that led to Ross’ arrest. CBS News Miami also reported that authorities had not immediately confirmed the identity of the woman involved in the criminal complaint.
Ross remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
