Rick Ross arrested in US over alleged domestic violence, felony strangulation
American rapper William Leonard Roberts II, popularly known as Rick Ross, has been arrested by the Miami Beach Police Department in Florida over alleged domestic violence, including a felony charge of battery by strangulation.
According to Miami-Dade jail and court records, the 50-year-old hip-hop mogul was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. on Thursday.
Ross faces two domestic violence-related charges: one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery.
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Court records show that his bond was set at $5,000 for the felony strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor battery charge, bringing his total bond to $6,000.
Attorney denies charges
Reacting to the development, Rick Ross’ attorney, Bradley Horenstein, denied the allegations and urged the public to allow the legal process to run its course before drawing conclusions.
Speaking to CBS News Miami, Horenstein insisted that the rapper is innocent and that the truth will be revealed in court.
“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein stated.
Law enforcement authorities have not yet released official details regarding the specific incident, including its exact location, time, or the identity of the alleged victim. CBS News Miami reported that requests for the official arrest report have been submitted to both the Miami Beach Police Department and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Prior abuse claims
The arrest comes shortly after the rapper’s former girlfriend, model Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of physical abuse.
According to People, Kendrick alleged on social media that Ross had injured her lip during a domestic altercation approximately a month ago.
While it remains unconfirmed whether Kendrick’s claims are directly connected to the current criminal charges, the arrest has reignited public scrutiny surrounding the rapper.
Ross is scheduled to appear in court for his formal arraignment on October 22, where further details regarding the charges are expected to be disclosed.
Under US law, the charges remain unproven allegations until determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
