American rapper Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was arrested in Miami on Thursday after a woman accused him of domestic violence. According to Miami Beach police, the alleged incident occurred at Ross's Star Island home on August 28. The woman reported the incident to police on September 29, leading to Ross's arrest. He voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach police 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 made by the woman, who claimed to have been in a relationship with Ross for about a year, include claims that he became angry after she was tagged in an Instagram photo and physically assaulted her. The woman alleged that Ross slapped her in the face, struck her several times in the chest, and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of her hoodie.
According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged assault escalated, with Ross grabbing the woman by her ponytail, slamming her against a wall, and striking her in the face, causing a cut to her lip. The woman also alleged that Ross pushed her to the floor and attempted to spray her with a shower head. She provided a sworn statement and timestamped photographs of her injuries, which were reviewed by investigators along with surveillance footage from the residence.
Ross has denied the allegations, stating in a video posted on Instagram Stories that he is "totally innocent of the fabricated allegations made against myself." His attorney, Bradley Horenstein, also rejected the allegations, urging the public to allow the legal process to unfold. Horenstein told CBS News Miami that the allegations are false and that Ross is innocent.
Ross appeared by Zoom in Miami-Dade bond court on Thursday, where Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause based on the arrest report and set his bond at $5,000. Ross was later released on bond, with $4,000 for the felony charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor. The judge also issued a stay-away order barring Ross from directly or indirectly contacting the alleged victim.
The stay-away order also prohibits Ross from contacting the alleged victim's home, workplace, and school. He was ordered to surrender firearms and is prohibited from possessing them while the case is pending. Ross is scheduled to be arraigned on October 22. His attorney has stated that everything will come out during the legal process.
The case against Ross will continue to unfold in the coming weeks. The rapper's denial of the allegations and his attorney's statements suggest that the case may be contested. The alleged victim's claims and the evidence collected by investigators will be crucial in determining the outcome of the case.
Key points
- Rick Ross was arrested in Miami on charges of battery by strangulation and battery after a woman accused him of domestic violence.
- The alleged incident occurred at Ross's Star Island home on August 28, and the woman reported it to police on September 29.
- Ross has denied the allegations, stating that he is innocent, and his attorney has urged the public to allow the legal process to unfold.
