Rapper Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach after an ex-girlfriend reported an alleged domestic violence incident.
Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, turned himself in to Miami Beach police on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County.
The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery charge. Both charges relate to domestic violence, according to Miami-Dade court and jail records.
Ross later appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea through his attorney. His bond was set at a combined $6,000, with $5,000 attached to the felony strangulation charge and $1,000 to the misdemeanor battery charge. His arraignment is scheduled for October 22.
The case stems from an alleged altercation that occurred on August 28 at Ross’ Star Island residence in Miami Beach. The woman reported the incident to police on September 29, about a month after the alleged confrontation.
According to the arrest report, the woman told detectives that Ross became angry after seeing an Instagram photograph in which she had been tagged. She alleged that he questioned her about the photograph and accused her of being involved with another man.
The woman told police that the confrontation then became physical.
According to the allegations, Ross repeatedly slapped her in the face and struck her in the chest. She also alleged that he grabbed her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall.
She further told investigators that Ross used the collar of her hoodie to restrict her breathing. The allegation forms the basis of the felony battery-by-strangulation charge.
The woman also provided detectives with timestamped photographs that police said showed injuries. Reports on the arrest affidavit describe an injury to her lip among the evidence submitted to investigators.
The identity of the alleged victim was not initially released in Miami-Dade jail records. Several media reports have connected the case to Ross’ former girlfriend, model and content creator Jazzma Kendrick, who publicly accused the rapper of physical abuse days before his arrest.
Kendrick posted photographs of an injured lip on social media on September 26. In one post, she alleged that Ross had injured her and described the incident as the point at which she left the relationship. She also urged women experiencing physical abuse to leave dangerous relationships.
Ross’ legal team has rejected the accusations and asked the public not to reach a conclusion before the case goes through court.
Defense attorney Steve Sadow said Ross was being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend and questioned why the police report came about a month after the alleged incident.
“Mr. Roberts is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear,” Sadow said in a statement.
Sadow added that Ross is innocent and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges,” the attorney said, while asking Ross’ friends, fans and the wider public not to prejudge the case and to allow the judicial process to run its course.
