Rapper Rick Ross arrested in Miami Beach on domestic battery and strangulation charges; hip-hop artist behind bars following shocking allegations by ex-girlfriend

Rapper Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach on domestic violence charges, including a felony count of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanour battery charge. The arrest comes days after his former girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick publicly accused him of physical abuse, although authorities have not confirmed whether her allegations are connected to the criminal case. Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre at 6:10 a.m. Thursday, according to Miami-Dade jail and court records reviewed by CBS News Miami.

Rapper Rick Ross arrested in Miami Beach

The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery. Both charges are classified as domestic violence matters, according to the jail and court records. His bond was set at $5,000 for the felony charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanour, bringing the total to $6,000. Ross' arraignment is scheduled for October 22.

His attorney, Bradley Horenstein, has denied the allegations against the rapper. “All I can say is that the allegations are false. He's innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein told CBS News Miami. He also urged the public to allow the legal process to proceed before reaching conclusions. Authorities have not yet publicly released details about what allegedly happened, when the incident took place or the identity of the alleged victim.

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Rick Ross' arrest follows serious allegations from ex-girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick

Rick Ross' arrest comes shortly after Jazzma Kendrick, a model and content creator who previously dated the rapper, accused him of physical abuse on social media. People reported that Kendrick posted a series of Instagram Stories on September 26 alleging that Ross injured her lip during an incident that she said contributed to the end of their relationship. She shared photographs of the injury and wrote, “The day Rick busted my lip and the day I left.”

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Kendrick and Ross were publicly linked beginning in 2025 and later appeared to rekindle their relationship. They were seen together at the 2026 BET Awards, according to People. However, it remains unclear whether Kendrick's allegations are connected to the charges for which Ross was arrested. CBS News Miami said authorities had not established such a connection.

What did Rick Ross' lawyer say?

Ross' legal team has strongly rejected the allegations. His lawyers also told TMZ that the rapper was “wrongfully accused” and maintained that he is innocent. TMZ reported that the defence said the former girlfriend did not file a police report until roughly a month after the incident she described. The defence statements come as authorities continue to gather information about the case. CBS News Miami reported that it had requested the arrest report from Miami Beach Police and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.

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Rick Ross' career and Miami connection

Ross has been a prominent figure in hip-hop for more than two decades, with hits including “Hustlin'” and a career that has extended beyond music into business ventures. The Miami-area native has also maintained a strong connection to South Florida, making the latest arrest a significant development for the rapper. For now, the case remains at an early stage. Ross has denied the allegations through his attorney, while prosecutors have yet to present the full details of the case publicly. His October 22 arraignment is expected to provide the next major update as the legal proceedings move forward.

Stay tuned for more such updates!