Rapper Rick Ross Arrested in Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Rapper Rick Ross was taken into custody early Thursday morning in Miami Beach, facing charges related to a domestic violence incident. Authorities reported a battery accusation against him.

The artist, whose real name is William Roberts II, has been charged with felony battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge, as indicated by online court records.

An attorney representing Ross, who is 50 years old, claimed that his client is being falsely accused by an ex-girlfriend, suggesting that her intentions are questionable.

“The ex-girlfriend didn’t even file a police report until a month after the alleged incident,” defense attorney Steve Sadow mentioned. “Mr. Roberts is innocent and has entered a not guilty plea. He asks that his friends, fans, and the public refrain from judging the situation prematurely and let the legal process take its course.”

Ross was released from jail on a cash bond the same day, with an arraignment set for October 22.

According to the arrest report, a woman claimed to detectives that while living with Ross on August 28, he accused her of infidelity, leading to multiple physical assaults. She alleged that he choked her with her shirt collar and slammed her against a wall. Ultimately, she managed to leave but returned later to retrieve her things after Ross had departed.

The police report was filed on Tuesday, and Ross turned himself in at the Miami Beach Police Station on Thursday morning.

In 2017, Ross entered a no contest plea to aggravated assault charges after a 2015 incident in which he reportedly forced a man into a guesthouse at his home in suburban Atlanta and assaulted him with a handgun. However, he was later exonerated under a first-offender program in Georgia.

A prominent figure in South Florida, Ross rose to fame in 2006 with his hit “Hustlin’,” which significantly contributed to Miami’s visibility in the hip-hop scene during a time when Atlanta and Houston were more dominant. The single achieved double platinum status and led to a bidding war for Ross, eventually signing with Def Jam Records, under the leadership of Jay-Z.

His debut album, “Port of Miami,” also reached platinum status, debuting at the top of the Billboard 200. It marked the beginning of several successful albums, including “Trilla” and “Deeper Than Rap,” and earned him nine Grammy nominations.

In 2008, Ross established the influential Maybach Music Group (MMG), which helped launch the careers of artists like Wale, Meek Mill, and French Montana.

His latest album, “Set In Stone,” was released in July.