Rick Ross Arrested in Miami Beach on Domestic Violence and Strangulation Charges
Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday, October 1, 2026, facing felony domestic violence charges after a late-August incident at his Star Island mansion, CBS News reported. The 50-year-old hip-hop artist, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to jail and court records cited by The Guardian.
The arrest stems from an altercation that occurred on August 28 at the rapper’s Florida residence, Rolling Stone reported. According to Miami Beach police documents, an unnamed woman who lived with Ross for about a year told investigators that an argument escalated when Ross accused her of being tagged in a photo on Instagram. The victim stated that Ross slapped her in the face, slammed her against a wall, and restricted her breathing by twisting the collar of her hoodie, Rolling Stone reported. The woman reported the incident to police on September 29.
Charges and Bond Set at Miami-Dade Court
Ross faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, according to CBS News. Following his voluntary surrender to detectives at Miami Beach Police headquarters, Ross appeared via Zoom for a bond hearing in Miami-Dade County court on Thursday morning.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer reviewed the arrest report, found probable cause in the case, and set Ross’ total bond at $5,000—comprising $4,000 for the felony strangulation charge and $1,000 for the misdemeanor battery count, CBS News reported. The judge also issued a pretrial stay-away order preventing Ross from contacting the alleged victim. Ross is scheduled to be arraigned on October 22, according to USA Today.
Legal Defense Denies Allegations as Ex-Girlfriend Speaks Out
Defense attorney Bradley Horenstein entered a written plea of not guilty and firmly denied the accusations against his client, USA Today reported. “All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein told CBS News Miami. “We just ask that you allow the process to play out before rushing to judgment, because the truth will come in.”
Another defense attorney representing Ross, Steve Sadow, noted that the accuser did not file a police report until a month after the alleged event, telling CP24 that the rapper maintains his innocence. Meanwhile, Ross’ ex-girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick posted images of a swollen lip on Instagram last week, writing, “The day Rick busted my lip and the day I left,” Rolling Stone reported. The injuries described in Kendrick’s social media posts match the injuries detailed in the Miami Beach police report, according to Rolling Stone.
Ross Has Prior Arrest Record in Georgia
Ross, a prominent figure in hip-hop for two decades with five No. 1 albums, has a prior arrest record in Georgia. In 2015, Ross and a bodyguard were arrested in Georgia on kidnapping and assault charges after a dispute with a landskeeper, USA Today reported. He ultimately pleaded no contest in 2017 to a felony count of aggravated assault and five misdemeanors, receiving 60 months of probation and a $10,000 fine, which was later erased from his record as a first-time felony offender.
The rapper released his 12th studio album, Set In Stone, in July, featuring collaborations with Gucci Mane, The-Dream, and Yung Miami, The Guardian reported. He is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center ahead of his October 22 arraignment.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Arrest
When and where did the alleged incident take place?
According to Miami Beach police records cited by CBS News, the alleged domestic violence incident occurred on August 28 at Rick Ross’ residence on Star Island in Miami Beach.
What specific charges has Rick Ross been dealt?
Court records show that Ross faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, according to The Guardian.
What was the outcome of the bond hearing?
During a Thursday morning hearing, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer set Ross’ total bond at $5,000 and imposed a mandatory stay-away order regarding the alleged victim, CBS News reported.
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