Rick Ross arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday, October 1, on domestic violence-related charges after a woman told police that the rapper struck her and restricted her breathing during an alleged altercation at his home in August. Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery.
The 50-year-old rapper voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach police and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County at about 6:10 a.m., according to jail records. The charges are both classified as domestic violence offenses. Ross later appeared by video in a Miami-Dade bond hearing and was released after posting bond.
According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged incident happened on August 28 at Ross’ residence on Star Island. The woman told investigators that she had been in a relationship with Ross for about a year and that they were living together at the time.
The woman said Ross woke her early that morning and became angry after she had been tagged in an Instagram photo. She told police that he questioned her about whether she was lying to him before allegedly slapping her in the face.
The affidavit says the confrontation continued later in a bathroom, where the woman alleged that Ross accused her of being involved with another man. She told investigators that he struck her several times and then grabbed and twisted the collar of the hoodie she was wearing, restricting her breathing.
She also alleged that Ross grabbed her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face, causing a cut or injury to her lip. According to the report, he then pushed her to the floor and turned on the shower.
Police said the woman eventually managed to leave the bathroom. After Ross left the residence, she gathered her belongings and left the property.
Investigators said the woman provided photographs of her alleged injuries, with timestamps that corresponded with the date of the incident. Police also reviewed surveillance footage connected to the case, including video showing a friend arriving at the property after the alleged attack.
Ross’ arrest came only days after model and content creator Jazzma Kendrick publicly accused him of physical abuse on Instagram. Kendrick shared photographs showing an injured and swollen lip and wrote about an incident in which she said Ross had injured her. She also urged people experiencing abuse to leave violent relationships.
The timing of Kendrick’s accusations and Ross’ arrest has drawn attention, but authorities have not publicly established in the arrest information that the woman involved in the criminal case is Kendrick. The arrest affidavit identifies the alleged victim by initials rather than publicly naming her.
Ross’ lawyers have denied the allegations. Attorney Bradley Horenstein said the accusations were false and asked the public not to rush to judgment while the case moves through court. Another lawyer for Ross, Steve Sadow, said the rapper was wrongfully accused and had pleaded not guilty.
During Thursday’s bond hearing, a judge ordered Ross to stay away from the alleged victim and prohibited direct or indirect contact, including through third parties, social media or other electronic communication. He was also ordered to surrender firearms and was barred from possessing them while the case is pending.
Ross’ bond was set at $4,000 for the battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor battery charge, bringing the total to $5,000. He posted bond and was released later that morning. His arraignment is scheduled for October 22.
After his release, Ross publicly denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated. His legal team has maintained that he is innocent and that the evidence and legal proceedings will address the accusations.
The arrest adds a serious legal case to the public spotlight surrounding one of hip-hop’s most recognizable figures. Ross rose to prominence with his 2006 debut album “Port of Miami” and the hit song “Hustlin’,” and has remained a prominent figure in the music industry for more than two decades. The Miami Beach case is now moving through the court system, where the allegations against him will be addressed through the legal process.
