Rapper Rick Ross arrested in Miami Beach on felony battery by strangulation charge

Rapper Rick Ross was arrested by Miami Beach police early Thursday on domestic violence charges, including felony battery by strangulation, according to Miami-Dade jail and court records.

Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. this Thursday.

The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. Both charges are listed as involving domestic violence.

Ross’ attorney, Bradley Horenstein, denied the allegations against his client and urged the public not to rush to judgment as the case moves through the legal process.

“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein told CBS News Miami. “We just ask that you allow the process to play out before rushing to judgment, because the truth will come in.”

Ross appeared via Zoom in Miami-Dade bond court Thursday morning, where Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer said she had reviewed the arrest report and found probable cause in the case.

Glazer said in court that the alleged incident occurred on Aug. 28 and described the case as a delayed report.

During the hearing, Horenstein noted that Ross is a celebrity and asked that his client’s release be expedited. The judge set Ross’ bond at $4,000 on the battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanor battery charge, for a total of $5,000.

Glazer also issued a stay-away order involving the alleged victim, identified in court by her initials. Ross was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim, including through third parties, social media or other electronic means, and to stay away from the person’s home, workplace or school.

Ross was also ordered to surrender any firearms and concealed weapons and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The judge also ordered him not to engage in criminal activity or use illegal drugs while the case is pending.

His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22.

The arrest comes days after Ross’ former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of physically abusing her. According to People.com, Kendrick alleged on social media that Ross injured her lip during an incident she said happened about a month earlier. Ross had not publicly responded to those allegations.

Ross, a Miami-area native known for songs including “Hustlin’,” has been a prominent figure in hip-hop for two decades.