Rapper Rick Ross has been cleared of a felony battery charge in Florida, but he is still facing two misdemeanor charges in connection with allegations of domestic violence involving his former girlfriend.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, prosecutors have dropped the felony battery charge against the 50-year-old rapper, citing insufficient evidence. However, two misdemeanor charges remain: battery and battery/domestic violence.
Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, was initially arrested on October 1 and faced charges of felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery. He has pleaded not guilty to the remaining allegations.
The case stems from an alleged incident at Ross’ Miami residence on August 28. According to the police arrest report, his girlfriend accused him of physically assaulting her after he became angry over a photograph on Instagram in which she had been tagged.
The woman told investigators that Ross woke her up that morning and questioned her about allegedly lying to him. She claimed he accused her of being romantically involved with someone she described as just a friend before slapping her in the face.
The arrest report further alleges that Ross repeatedly struck her when she denied the accusations, including several blows to the chest. He was also accused of restricting her breathing by grabbing the collar of her hoodie and twisting it around her neck.
According to the report, Ross allegedly grabbed the woman’s ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face while she was bent over, leaving her with a split lip. He then allegedly pushed her to the floor and turned on the shower, attempting to spray her with the showerhead.
The woman reportedly managed to leave the bathroom and get out of the property. Police said she later returned to collect her belongings after Ross had left the residence.
Investigators stated that she provided photographs of her injuries, with timestamps that they said corresponded with the alleged incident. She also told police that she had contacted a friend to pick her up from the property, but the friend was allegedly turned away.
Detectives were also informed about possible video footage connected to the incident. Ross subsequently shared an Instagram photograph showing the friend arriving at the scene, according to the report.
Miami Beach Police spokesman Christopher Bess said investigators had gathered a victim statement, photographs of the reported injuries and surveillance footage connected to the alleged incident.
“Our investigators were able to obtain a victim statement, but they also collected photographs of the injuries, surveillance video of the alleged incident, and they were able to establish probable cause for this arrest,” Bess said at the time. He described the evidence as painting a picture of “a very violent attack.”
Ross surrendered to Miami Beach police on October 1 and was taken into custody. Authorities said he declined to provide a statement on the advice of his lawyers.
His attorneys, Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein, have rejected the allegations, maintaining that their client is innocent and has been wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend.
“Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges,” the lawyers said in a statement. They also asked his friends, fans and the public not to prejudge the case and to allow the legal process to take its course.
Bess said the police department treats domestic violence allegations seriously, regardless of the identity or public profile of the person accused.
The decision to drop the felony charge means Ross no longer faces that particular allegation in the case. However, the two remaining misdemeanor charges have not been resolved, and the rapper’s not-guilty plea means the allegations remain subject to the judicial process.
