Rapper Rick Ross Arrested in Miami Beach on Felony Battery by Strangulation Charges Following Probe

Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday and charged with felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanour battery in a case listed as involving domestic violence, according to court and jail records.

The 50-year-old rapper was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6.10am on 1 October. The allegations have not been proven in court, and Ross has pleaded not guilty.

Publicly available court information reviewed by CBS News Miami showed one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery. His arraignment is scheduled for 22 October.

The arrest places the rapper at the start of a criminal case rather than at the point of any determination of guilt. No trial findings have been made, and the publicly reported information is currently limited to the charges, booking details, defence response and scheduled court date.

Rick Ross Faces Two Battery Charges

Details about the alleged incident were initially limited. It was reported Thursday morning that jail and court information did not immediately disclose when or where the alleged incident occurred or Ross' relationship to the alleged victim.

The outlet said it had requested the arrest report from Miami Beach police and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.

The Associated Press later reported that an attorney for Ross, Steve Sadow, said the accusation came from a former girlfriend and was not reported to police until about a month after the alleged incident. Sadow said Ross maintains his innocence and asked the public not to prejudge the case while it moves through the courts.

The defence statement does not establish the circumstances of the alleged incident. The criminal charges remain allegations, and the available reporting does not provide a complete account of the evidence that prosecutors may rely on.

Published reports also differ on Ross' bail. Reports said court and jail records listed bond at $5,000 on the felony battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanour battery charge, for a combined $6,000. The outlet noted that the jail system cautioned posted bond information may not reflect the current amount.

The Associated Press subsequently reported that jail records showed Ross being held on $5,000 bail. The reason for the difference between the two published figures was not immediately clear, so the amounts should not be treated as interchangeable.

Separate Allegations From Former Girlfriend

Ross' arrest came days after his former girlfriend, model and content creator Jazzma Kendrick, made separate public allegations of physical abuse on Instagram.

People reported that Kendrick alleged on 26 September that Ross had been physically abusive during their relationship and had injured her lip. She shared images that she said showed the injury. A representative for Ross did not immediately respond to People's request for comment when the allegations were published.

Kendrick did not specify exactly when the alleged abuse occurred. Reports said it was not immediately clear whether her allegations were connected to the criminal case announced Thursday.

The available reporting does not establish that Kendrick is the complainant in the Miami Beach case. Her social media allegations and the criminal charges should therefore be treated as separate matters unless court documents or law enforcement authorities establish a connection.

Ross, a Miami-area native, has been a prominent figure in hip-hop for about two decades and is known for songs including 'Hustlin''. He is also the founder of Maybach Music Group.

The immediate legal issue is the pending Miami Beach case. Ross faces one felony and one misdemeanour battery charge, has pleaded not guilty and is due to be arraigned on 22 October. No finding of guilt has been made.