Rapper Rick Ross has bonded out of jail after being arrested in Miami Beach on domestic violence charges stemming from an alleged altercation at his Star Island residence.
Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach Police on Thursday, October 1, and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at approximately 6:10 a.m.
The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery. Both charges are classified as domestic violence-related.
According to an arrest affidavit, the allegations stem from an incident on August 28 involving a woman who had reportedly been in a relationship with Ross for about a year and was living with him at the time.
The woman told investigators that Ross woke her early that morning after becoming angry about a photograph in which she had been tagged on Instagram.
She alleged that Ross repeatedly slapped her in the face before later confronting her again inside a bathroom. According to the affidavit, she told police he struck her several times in the chest and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of the hoodie she was wearing.
The woman further alleged that Ross grabbed her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face, causing her lip to split. She told investigators that he then pushed her to the floor, turned on the shower and attempted to spray her with the shower head.
Police said the woman later provided a sworn statement and timestamped photographs showing her alleged injuries.
Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from the residence which they said showed a friend arriving to collect the woman and being turned away.
The alleged incident occurred on August 28 but was reported to police on September 29.
Ross’s former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, had also publicly accused the rapper of physical abuse days before his arrest, sharing photographs on social media which she said showed injuries she suffered during their relationship.
At a court appearance Thursday morning, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause for the case to proceed.
Ross’s attorney, Bradley Horenstein, denied the allegations and said his client is innocent, urging the public to allow the judicial process to play out before reaching conclusions.
The judge set Ross’s bond at $4,000 on the felony battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanour battery charge, bringing the total to $5,000.
Ross bonded out of jail later Thursday morning.
The court also issued a stay-away order prohibiting Ross from having direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim, including through social media, third parties or other electronic communication.
He was also ordered to surrender any firearms and concealed weapons and is prohibited from possessing firearms while the case is pending.
Ross is scheduled to be arraigned on October 22.
The Miami-area native has been one of hip-hop’s most prominent figures for roughly two decades and is widely known for tracks including “Hustlin'” and “Aston Martin Music.”
The allegations remain before the court and have not been proven. Ross maintains his innocence as the case continues.
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