Rapper Rick Ross voluntarily surrendered to detectives at Miami Beach Police headquarters early Thursday morning. He turned himself in following allegations that he strangled and repeatedly struck a woman during a late August altercation at his Star Island mansion. Police booked the 50-year-old artist, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. He faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery.
Details of the Alleged Incident
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim reported the incident to authorities on September 29. Investigators noted that the woman had lived with Ross for approximately a year. The confrontation reportedly began on August 28 when Ross accused the victim over an Instagram tag and questioned her about a relationship with someone else.
The report states that Ross slapped the victim when she denied the accusations. The altercation allegedly escalated inside a bathroom. During this time, he struck her chest, restricted her breathing by twisting her hoodie collar, slammed her against a wall, pushed her down, and attempted to spray her with a shower head before she managed to escape.
Court Appearance and Legal Defense
Ross appeared in court Thursday, where his attorney, Bradley Horenstein, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. The presiding judge ordered the rapper to stay away from the accuser and set his bond at $5,000.
“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein told reporters outside the courtroom. He urged the public to allow the legal process to unfold.
Investigation and Evidence
Investigators stated that the victim provided photographic evidence of her injuries. The photos included timestamps that appeared to corroborate her account of the August 28 attack. These charges arrive concurrently with heightened public scrutiny surrounding the hip-hop mogul’s personal life, following related social media posts from former partners circulating online.
As the legal proceedings continue, Ross is scheduled for an upcoming arraignment later in the month. Meanwhile, his defense prepares to challenge the felony and misdemeanor charges in court.
