RICK ROSS ARRESTED IN MIAMI BEACH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES

American rapper and music executive Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, on domestic violence related charges, according to police and court records.

Ross, 50, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at about 6:10 a.m. on Thursday after voluntarily surrendering to Miami Beach police.

He faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. Both charges are classified as domestic violence related.

ALLEGED INCIDENT DATES BACK TO AUGUST

According to an arrest affidavit reviewed by CBS News Miami, the charges stem from an alleged incident at Ross's Star Island residence on August 28.

Police said the woman involved reported the incident to authorities on September 29. According to the affidavit, she told investigators that she and Ross had been in a relationship for about a year and were living together at the time.

The woman alleged that an argument began after Ross questioned her about being tagged in a photograph on Instagram. She told investigators that Ross slapped her and later struck her several times before allegedly restricting her breathing by grabbing the collar of her hoodie.

The affidavit further alleges that Ross grabbed the woman by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face.

Police said the woman provided investigators with photographs of injuries and a sworn statement. Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from the residence, according to CBS News Miami.

The allegations remain allegations and have not been established as facts in court.

ROSS PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Ross's legal team has denied the allegations.

Attorney Steve Sadow said Ross was being wrongfully accused by an ex girlfriend and that he had pleaded not guilty. Attorney Bradley Horenstein is also representing Ross in the case.

Ross's lawyers have urged the public not to prejudge the case and said they expect the judicial process to establish what happened.

A Miami Dade judge found probable cause during Ross's bond hearing and imposed conditions including a stay away order involving the alleged victim. The court also prohibited direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim while the case proceeds.

BOND AND NEXT COURT DATE

Reports from Miami Dade jail and court records indicate that the two charges carried separate bond amounts of $5,000 for the felony battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor battery charge.

However, following the bond hearing, CBS News Miami reported that the judge set Ross's bond at $4,000 on the felony charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanor charge, bringing the court ordered total to $5,000. The Associated Press also reported that Ross was released on $5,000 bail.

His arraignment is scheduled for October 22, 2026.

CONNECTION TO JAZZMA KENDRICK REMAINS UNCLEAR

The arrest came days after Ross's former girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick publicly accused him of physical abuse.

Kendrick shared photographs on social media showing an injured lip and alleged that Ross caused the injury during an incident she said occurred about a month earlier.

However, authorities and Ross's legal team have not publicly established that Kendrick's allegations are connected to the criminal case that resulted in Thursday's arrest.

The case remains ongoing, and Ross is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

VNTV will continue to monitor developments ahead of his October 22 arraignment.