Rick Ross Arrested in Miami Beach on Battery by Strangulation Charge
Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday on domestic violence charges, including a felony count of battery by strangulation, according to court records. His attorneys say he is innocent.
Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, is 50. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County at 6:10 a.m.
The Charges
Ross faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, both related to domestic violence, according to CBS Miami.
His bond was set at $6,000 total, including $5,000 on the strangulation charge and $1,000 on the battery charge. An arraignment is scheduled for October 22.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
What the Accuser Alleges
According to the arrest report, an ex-girlfriend contacted police on Tuesday to report an incident that she said happened on August 28.
She told police Ross woke her "in a jealous rage" over a photo posted on social media and struck her repeatedly, according to Consequence. She alleged that he hit her in the chest several times, grabbed her by the ponytail, slammed her against a wall and choked her "to the point where she could not breathe."
The woman provided police with photos of her injuries, the report said. Police have not publicly identified her.
None of the allegations have been tested in court, and Ross has not been convicted of any crime.
A woman romantically linked to the rapper recently accused him of violence on social media. It is not clear whether those claims are connected to the arrest.
Ross's Attorneys Push Back
Ross's legal team strongly denied the allegations and questioned the timing of the report.
"The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place," attorney Steve Sadow said, according to the Associated Press.
"Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges," his attorneys said, adding that he "is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear." They asked the public not to prejudge the case while the judicial process plays out.
Court records also list Miami attorney Bradley Horenstein as representing Ross, according to CBS Miami.
Who Is Rick Ross?
Ross is one of the best-known figures in Southern hip-hop. He rose to fame in 2006 with his debut hit "Hustlin'" and later founded the record label Maybach Music Group, which has released music by artists including Meek Mill and Wale. Ross grew up in the Miami area, and his 2006 debut album was titled "Port of Miami."
He is also known for business ventures ranging from restaurant franchises to beverage brands, and he owns a sprawling estate outside Atlanta.
The arrest comes as other major hip-hop figures face legal trouble. Sean Combs is serving a federal prison sentence following his 2025 conviction and continues to face civil lawsuits.
A Reminder During Awareness Month
The case comes at the start of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking by a partner.
Domestic violence has drawn renewed attention in South Florida this year. In April, Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen was found dead in what police described as a domestic violence incident, and her husband was charged with murder.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233, or by texting START to 88788.
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