Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday after authorities charged him with battery and battery by strangulation in a domestic violence case.
Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., according to Miami-Dade County records. The 50-year-old musician faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery charge.
Rapper Pleads Not Guilty
Ross surrendered to authorities and pleaded not guilty to the charges. His case is scheduled to return to court for an arraignment on October 22.
Reports initially differed over the amount of bond, but Miami-Dade court reporting indicates the two charges carried separate bond amounts totaling $6,000: $5,000 for the strangulation charge and $1,000 for the battery charge.
A stay-away order has also been reported in connection with the case, including restrictions on contacting his former girlfriend through social media.
Ex-Girlfriend Accuses Ross of Physical Assault
The arrest follows allegations made by Ross’s former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, who publicly accused him of physical abuse days before the arrest.
According to the arrest affidavit reported by multiple outlets, Kendrick told police that an alleged confrontation occurred on August 28 while the pair were at a residence they shared.
She alleged that Ross became angry after seeing a photograph on social media in which she had been tagged and questioned her about another man whom she described as a friend.
Affidavit Details Alleged Physical Attack
Kendrick’s account, as described in the arrest documents, alleges that the confrontation escalated into physical violence.
She told investigators that Ross allegedly slapped her, struck her in the chest several times and grabbed her by the ponytail before slamming her against a wall. She also alleged that he choked her by twisting the collar of her hoodie until she could not breathe.
The affidavit further states that she reported being struck in the face while bent over, resulting in a split or injured lip, and described another alleged incident involving the shower.
Kendrick reportedly provided investigators with time-stamped photographs that she said documented injuries from the incident. The FADER reported that police records say she reported the alleged assault on September 29.
Ross’s Lawyers Reject the Allegations
Ross’s legal team has strongly disputed the accusations.
Attorneys Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein said the rapper is being wrongfully accused and questioned the former girlfriend’s motives. They also pointed to the time between the alleged August incident and the police report as part of their defense.
His lawyers have urged the public not to prejudge the case and said the judicial process should be allowed to proceed.
The allegations remain accusations, and Ross has pleaded not guilty.
Arrest Follows Ex-Girlfriend’s Public Claims
Kendrick had already discussed the alleged abuse publicly on social media before Ross’s arrest, posting photographs that she said showed injuries she suffered.
In posts reported by UPI, she alleged that Ross had hit her and warned others about remaining in abusive relationships.
It was initially unclear from jail records whether the social-media allegations were directly connected to the criminal charges. Subsequent reporting identified the August 28 incident described in the arrest affidavit and Kendrick’s September 29 police report.
Judge Says Ross Will Be Treated Like Other Defendants
Ross appeared before Judge Mindy Glazer following his booking.
During the hearing, one of his attorneys reportedly sought an expedited release because of concerns about the rapper’s public profile and potential risks while incarcerated.
Glazer responded that Ross would be treated in the same manner as other defendants appearing before the court.
Ross Has Previous Criminal Case History
The Miami arrest is not Ross’s first encounter with the criminal justice system.
In 2015, he was arrested in Georgia in connection with allegations involving a groundskeeper at one of his properties. The case included kidnapping and aggravated assault allegations, which Ross disputed while maintaining that he had acted in self-defense.
In 2017, Ross reached a plea agreement in the case. He pleaded no contest to one felony count of aggravated assault, while other felony charges were dropped. He also entered no-contest pleas to five misdemeanour charges and received 60 months of probation. He was sentenced to time served on the felony charge and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Domestic Violence Case Now Heads Toward Court
Ross’s latest case will now move through the Miami-Dade court system, with his October 22 arraignment representing the next major scheduled proceeding.
For now, the central allegations come from the former girlfriend’s account and the arrest affidavit, while Ross’s defense maintains that he has been wrongly accused.
No finding of guilt has been made in the current case, and the charges will have to be resolved through the judicial process.
