Rapper Rick Ross, legally known as William Leonard Roberts, was taken into custody by Miami Beach police on Thursday morning, facing charges related to domestic violence. According to Miami-Dade records, the charges include felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery.
Ross, 50, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. His lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, strongly refuted the allegations, stating, “All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out. We just ask that you allow the process to play out before rushing to judgment, because the truth will come in.”
During a Zoom appearance in Miami-Dade bond court, Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer confirmed the presence of probable cause based on the arrest report. She noted the alleged incident occurred on August 28 and described it as reported after some delay.
Ross’ attorney emphasized his client’s celebrity status and requested expedited release. The judge set a total bond of $5,000—$4,000 for the felony charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor.
The court imposed specific conditions for Ross, including a stay-away order from the alleged victim, who was identified by initials. He is prohibited from contacting her through any means and must avoid her residence, workplace, or school. Additionally, Ross must surrender any firearms or concealed weapons and is barred from criminal activity and illegal drug use during the case proceedings.
His arraignment is scheduled for October 22. This arrest follows public accusations by Ross’ ex-girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, who claimed he harmed her in a post on social media, stating the incident occurred last month. Ross has not publicly commented on her allegations.
As a Miami native, Rick Ross has been a significant presence in the hip-hop industry for the past two decades, known for hits like “Hustlin’.”