10 Photos of Rick Ross: Rapper Faces Felony Battery Charges After Star Island Domestic Dispute Arrest

Rick Ross was released on bond from a Miami-Dade jail on Thursday after surrendering to Miami Beach police over an alleged domestic incident at his Star Island home. The 50-year-old rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery, both listed as involving domestic violence.

Ross was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6.10am on 1 October. His lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, has denied the allegations, saying that they are false. The woman told investigators the alleged incident took place on 28 August, according to the arrest affidavit, and it was reported to police on 29 September.

What the Arrest Affidavit Alleges

The woman told officers she had been dating Ross for about a year and was living with him at the time. She alleged that he struck her in the chest several times and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of the hoodie she was wearing.

According to the affidavit, Ross then grabbed her by the ponytail, slammed her against a wall and struck her in the face, causing a busted lip. The affidavit says she later gave detectives a sworn statement and timestamped photographs of her injuries.

The Friend Who Was Turned Away

Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the residence that they said showed a friend arriving to collect the woman and being turned away. According to the affidavit, Ross later posted a photograph on Instagram showing the friend arriving at the property.

Police were also told of video of the alleged incident, but the available reporting does not establish that the footage captured the alleged assault itself.

Kendrick's Separate Allegations

The arrest came days after Ross' former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of physical abuse in Instagram Stories posts on 26 September. She shared images of what she said was a lip injury and later said the alleged incident happened about a month earlier.

Ross has not publicly addressed her claims, and a representative did not respond to requests for comment from People. Reporting based on the affidavit does not name the woman, and it has not been confirmed that Kendrick's allegations are connected to this criminal case.

Lawyer Says Allegations Are False

Horenstein told a Miami-based news outlet: 'All I can say is that the allegations are false. He's innocent. Everything is going to come out.' He urged the public to allow the legal process to play out before rushing to judgment.

Ross entered a not guilty plea and demanded a jury trial, according to a document filed by Horenstein.

Bond Hearing and Court Orders

Ross appeared by video link in Miami-Dade bond court on Thursday morning, where Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer said she had reviewed the arrest report and found probable cause. Horenstein noted that Ross is a celebrity and requested that his release be expedited, and Glazer told Ross he would be treated fairly like everybody else.

Glazer set bond at $4,000 (about £3,020) on the strangulation charge and $1,000 (about £755) on the battery charge, a total of $5,000 (about £3,775). Ross was ordered not to contact the woman directly or indirectly, including through social media, to stay away from her home and workplace, and to surrender any firearms. His arraignment is scheduled for 22 October.

What Florida Law Says

Under Florida law, battery by strangulation occurs when a person knowingly and intentionally, against another person's will, impedes normal breathing or circulation of the blood so as to create a risk of, or cause, great bodily harm. The statute covers applying pressure to the throat or neck or blocking the nose or mouth, and the offence is a third-degree felony.

The charge against Ross remains an allegation, and he has not been convicted in this case.