Rick Ross Arrested in Miami Beach on Domestic-Violence Battery Charges

Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday, October 1, after surrendering to Miami Beach police in connection with an alleged domestic-violence incident at his Star Island residence. Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., according to police and jail records.

Ross faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery charge. Miami Beach police said the charges stem from an alleged late-August incident that was reported on September 29. The arrest affidavit describes allegations by a woman who told investigators that Ross repeatedly struck her and restricted her breathing during an altercation. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Ross’s attorney, Bradley Horenstein, denied the accusations in comments to CBS Miami, saying the allegations are false and asking the public not to rush to judgment. Ross appeared by video in Miami-Dade bond court on Thursday, where a judge found probable cause based on the arrest report.

CBS Miami reported that the judge set bond at $4,000 on the strangulation charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanor battery charge, for a total of $5,000. The court also issued a stay-away order barring Ross from contacting the alleged victim directly or indirectly, including through social media, and ordered him to surrender firearms and concealed weapons while the case is pending.

Ross’s arraignment is scheduled for October 22. Public reports have also noted that his former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, recently made separate public abuse allegations against him. Authorities and Ross’s representatives have not established in public statements whether those allegations are connected to the criminal case.