Rick Ross arrested: Rapper, 50, faces shocking felony charge
Miami-Dade jail records show Rick Ross arrested and booked early Thursday, Oct. 1, after Miami Beach police took the rapper into custody on two domestic violence charges, including a felony count of battery by strangulation, according to records reported by CBS News Miami.
Ross, 50, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts, was booked at 6:10 a.m. into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in west Miami-Dade County, jail records show.
Why was Rick Ross arrested?
Court records list two counts, both flagged as domestic violence offenses: a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge, CBS News Miami reported.
An arrest report cited by WSVN 7News places the alleged incident on Aug. 28. According to that report, the woman told police Ross got angry over an Instagram photo she had been tagged in and slapped her each time she denied doing anything wrong. She also alleged he hit her in the chest several times, grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her head to the ground, which restricted her breathing, WSVN reported.
Police have not publicly named the woman. Ross has not been convicted of any crime, and the charges are allegations.
Rick Ross arrested: Bond, plea and court date
Jail records listed bond at $5,000 on the strangulation count and $1,000 on the battery count, or $6,000 in all. The records note that posted bond amounts may not reflect current figures.
Ross appeared before a judge Thursday morning, and his attorney entered a plea of not guilty, according to WSVN. Court information shows he has hired private attorney Bradley Horenstein. His arraignment is set for Oct. 22.
Ross had not commented publicly on the arrest as of Thursday morning.
Rick Ross arrested days after Jazzma Kendrick’s allegations
The arrest comes days after his former girlfriend, model Jazzma Kendrick, accused him of abuse. In Instagram Stories posted around Sept. 27, Kendrick shared photos of what she described as injuries, including a busted lip, and said the incident happened about a month earlier, Complex reported. Ross did not publicly respond to those claims.
CBS News Miami said it was not immediately clear whether Kendrick’s allegations are tied to Thursday’s arrest. The outlet has requested the arrest report from Miami Beach police and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Who is Rick Ross?
Ross grew up in the Miami area and has been one of hip-hop’s best-known names for two decades. He broke through with the 2006 single “Hustlin'” and later founded the Maybach Music Group label.
For more on stars facing legal trouble, see our coverage of Sean Combs’ bail fight and Akon’s arrest in Georgia, or browse the latest celebrity news.