Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach early Thursday and charged with battery after a woman he was living with accused him of assaulting her, authorities said.
According to the Associated Press, Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, surrendered at the Miami Beach Police Station two days after the woman reported the alleged incident to police. Online court records show that he faces a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge.
Ross, 50, has denied the allegations through his attorney, Steve Sadow. The lawyer said the rapper was being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose motives were unclear.
“The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place,” Sadow said in a statement. “Mr Roberts is innocent and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.”
Sadow also urged Ross’ supporters and the public not to prejudge the case and to allow the legal process to continue.
Ross was released from jail later Thursday after posting a $5,000 cash bond, according to court records. His arraignment is scheduled for 22 October.
According to the police report, the woman told Miami Beach detectives that she was living with Ross on 28 August when he accused her of cheating on him and allegedly struck her several times.
She also alleged that Ross choked her with the collar of her shirt and pushed her into a wall. She eventually left the home. She later returned after Ross had left to collect her belongings.
Ross also faced legal trouble in 2017 after pleading no contest to an aggravated assault charge linked to a 2015 incident at his suburban Atlanta mansion. He was accused of forcing a man into a guesthouse and beating him with a handgun.
Under Georgia’s first-offender programme, a court later issued an order exonerating Ross of guilt on the felony charge, according to court records.
A longtime South Florida resident, Ross rose to fame in 2006 with his debut single Hustlin’. He became a major figure in Southern hip-hop during the 2000s, when Atlanta and Houston were among the genre’s main centres.
Hustlin’ was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song also sparked a bidding war before Ross signed with Def Jam Records, then headed by Jay-Z.
His debut album, Port of Miami, also went platinum and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He followed it with several successful albums, including Trilla in 2008 and Deeper Than Rap in 2009. Ross has received nine Grammy Award nominations.
In 2008, he founded Maybach Music Group, which helped launch or expand the careers of artists including Wale, Meek Mill and French Montana.
His latest album, Set In Stone, was released in July.
