Rapper Rick Ross has been arrested and charged with battery in a domestic violence case, according to police.
Miami Beach police arrested Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, early Thursday on a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge. He was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m.
The charges come after a woman accused Ross of repeatedly striking her and restricting her breathing during an alleged domestic violence incident at Ross’ Star Island mansion in August, according to CBS News.
The woman alleges that Ross hit her in the face and chest and grabbed and twisted the collar of the hoodie she was wearing, restricting her breathing. He also allegedly grabbed her by her hair and slammed her against a wall before hitting her in the face, causing a busted lip.
Ross then pushed her to the floor, turned on the shower and tried to spray her with the shower head, per the arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News.
The woman gave a sworn statement to detectives, along with timestamped photographs of her injuries, police said.
In court, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer said she reviewed the arrest report and found probable cause for Ross’ arrest.
An attorney for Ross, 50, claimed he is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear.
“The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place,” defense attorney Steve Sadow wrote in the statement.
“Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges. He respectfully requests that his friends, fans and the general public not prejudge the situation and allow the judicial process to run its course.”
Ross was being held Thursday morning on $5,000 bail. An arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Ross, a Miami-area native, has been a prominent figure in hip-hop for two decades and is known for songs including Hustlin'.
