Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach after an ex-girlfriend accused him of repeatedly hitting and choking her during an alleged confrontation at their home.
The 50-year-old rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, turned himself in to police on Thursday morning.
Miami-Dade court records show that Ross faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour battery charge. Both counts are connected to an alleged domestic violence incident.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Woman alleges jealous confrontation turned violent
According to law-enforcement sources cited by TMZ, the woman told police that the alleged attack occurred on 28 August.
She claimed she had been sleeping when Ross woke her and confronted her over a photograph in which she had been tagged on social media.
The woman alleged that Ross became jealous, accused her of lying about another relationship and slapped her across the face.
She further claimed that he repeatedly struck her in the chest, grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her against a wall.
Ross is also accused of choking the woman to the point that she could not breathe.
The woman reportedly supplied police with photographs showing her alleged injuries. Authorities have not publicly identified her, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
Rick Ross denies allegations
Ross’s lawyers, Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein, strongly denied the accusations and questioned why the woman reportedly waited about a month before contacting police.
“William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear,” they said in a statement.
“The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place. Mr Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges.”
His lawyers urged fans and members of the public not to prejudge the case and to allow the judicial process to take its course.
Rapper held on $6,000 bond
Ross was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at approximately 6.10am.
Bond was set at $5,000 for the felony strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanour battery count, bringing the total to $6,000.
His legal team was working to secure his release on Thursday.
Ross is scheduled to be arraigned on 22 October.
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