Rapper Rick Ross was arrested Thursday after he was accused of beating his girlfriend at his Miami Beach home, according to authorities.
Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was charged with felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery in connection with a domestic violence incident at his home on Miami Beach’s exclusive Star Island, according to a statement and affidavit from the Miami Beach Police Department.
Police said the accuser reported that Ross, 50, struck her multiple times during an altercation on Aug. 28 and restricted her breathing by twisting the collar of her hoodie.
The woman, whom police did not name, reported the incident to police on Tuesday. Ross turned himself in Thursday morning. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
An attorney for Ross did not immediately return a request for comment.
The woman provided detectives with a sworn statement and photographs documenting her injuries, police said. A criminal affidavit identifies the woman as Ross’ girlfriend at the time of the incident.
On the morning of Aug. 28, Ross was “enraged” that his girlfriend was tagged in an Instagram photo, accused her of lying to him and slapped her across the face, the affidavit says.
Later that morning, according to the police record, Ross accused her of having a romantic relationship with someone she said she was “merely friends with.”
The woman told police that Ross then struck her in the chest several times and choked her “to the point she could not breathe by grabbing the collar of the hoodie she was wearing and twisting it,” the affidavit said.
Ross then grabbed her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall, the affidavit says.
She told police she escaped the residence, returned and waited until Ross left before retrieving her belongings, according to the affidavit. The two dated for about a year, and lived together at the Star Island home at the time of the incident, the affidavit says.
Ross is best known for his breakout single “Hustlin’,” released in 2006, as well as “Aston Martin Music” and “Stay Schemin.” He’s received nine Grammy nominations.
The rapper’s bond was set at $5,000 for the battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 for the battery charge, according to online jail records.
If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline for help at (800) 799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for more. States often have domestic violence hotlines as well.
