Rapper Rick Ross was arrested Thursday in Miami Beach and charged in connection with a domestic violence allegation, authorities said. Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, 50, faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery charge, according to court records. He voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach police and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center early Thursday.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by CBS Miami, the charges involve an alleged Aug. 28 confrontation at Ross’ Star Island residence. The woman told investigators that Ross became angry after seeing an Instagram photo, then allegedly struck her several times, restricted her breathing, pulled her by the hair and slammed her into a wall, causing an injury to her lip. She later provided police with photographs of her injuries and a sworn statement. The alleged incident was reported to police Sept. 29.
The arrest came days after Ross’ former girlfriend, model and content creator Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of physical abuse on Instagram. Kendrick shared photographs of an apparent lip injury and alleged that Ross had hit her, although she did not specify when the incident occurred in those posts. It has not been independently established that Kendrick’s public allegations are the same incident described in the arrest affidavit.
Ross has denied the allegations. His attorney, Steve Sadow, said Ross was wrongfully accused and pointed to the approximately one-month gap between the alleged incident and the police report. Ross pleaded not guilty, according to his attorney. During a bond hearing Thursday, a judge set bail at $5,000 and issued a stay-away order barring Ross from contacting the alleged victim directly or indirectly.
Ross was released after posting bond, and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22. He is a longtime figure in hip-hop, rising to prominence with his 2006 debut single “Hustlin’” and later founding Maybach Music Group. His latest album, “Set In Stone,” was released in July.
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