Rapper Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was arrested in Miami on Thursday after a woman accused him of striking her and restricting her breathing during an alleged domestic violence incident at his Star Island home in August. According to Miami Beach police, Ross voluntarily surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody. The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery.
The allegations relate to an incident on August 28, which was reported to police on September 29. According to the arrest affidavit, the woman told investigators that she and Ross had been in a relationship for about a year and were living together when the alleged assault occurred. She alleged that Ross became angry after she was tagged in an Instagram photo and slapped her in the face.
The woman further alleged that Ross struck her several times in the chest and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of her hoodie. The affidavit also alleges that Ross grabbed the woman by her ponytail, slammed her against a wall, and struck her in the face, causing a cut to her lip. She also alleged that he pushed her to the floor and attempted to spray her with a shower head.
Police said the woman provided a sworn statement and timestamped photographs of her injuries. Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from the residence, according to the affidavit. Ross has denied the allegations, saying in a video posted on Instagram Stories that he is "totally innocent of the fabricated allegations made against myself."
Ross's attorney, Bradley Horenstein, also rejected the allegations and urged the public to allow the legal process to unfold. "All I can say is that the allegations are false. He's innocent. Everything is going to come out," Horenstein told CBS News Miami. Ross appeared by Zoom in Miami-Dade bond court on Thursday, where Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause based on the arrest report.
Judge Glazer set Ross's bond at $5,000—$4,000 for the felony charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor—and he was later released on bond. The judge also issued a stay-away order barring Ross from directly or indirectly contacting the alleged victim and ordered him to stay away from her home, workplace, and school. He was also ordered to surrender firearms and prohibited from possessing them while the case is pending.
Ross is scheduled to be arraigned on October 22. If convicted, he faces serious penalties, including possible imprisonment. The case has sparked widespread media attention, with fans and critics alike eagerly awaiting the outcome. Key developments in the case include Ross's arrest and denial of the allegations, the woman's sworn statement and photographs of her injuries, and the judge's decision to set bond and issue a stay-away order.
Key points
- Rapper Rick Ross arrested in Miami on domestic violence charges
- Ross faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery
- Ross is scheduled to be arraigned on October 22
