Rapper Rick Ross arrested in Miami over alleged domestic violence

American rapper Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, over allegations of domestic violence.

The rapper, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, was taken into custody in the early hours of Thursday and booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at about 6:10 a.m., according to Miami-Dade County jail records.

The 50-year-old is facing one felony charge of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery charge, both classified as domestic violence offences.

CBS News Miami reported that the charges stem from the alleged domestic violence incident involving the hip-hop star.

Rick Ross is widely known for his successful career in the American hip-hop industry.

According to an arrest affidavit cited by The U.S. Sun, the alleged victim, a woman who said she had been in a relationship with the rapper for about a year, told police the incident started after Ross saw she was tagged in a photo on Instagram.

She alleged that Ross confronted her over the post, accusing her of being involved with another man, before slapping her in the face.

The woman claimed the confrontation continued in the bathroom, where Ross allegedly hit her several times in the chest, grabbed the collar of her hoodie, twisted it around her neck and choked her until she could not breathe.

She further alleged that he grabbed her by the ponytail, slammed her against a wall, struck her in the face while she was bent over, leaving her with a lip injury, and then pushed her to the floor, turned on the shower and tried to spray her with the showerhead.

Reacting to the arrest, Ross’ lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, dismissed the allegations, insisting his client is innocent.

“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out. We just ask that you allow the process to play out before rushing to judgment, because the truth will come in,” Horenstein told CBS News Miami.

Ross arraignment has been scheduled for October 22.

The arrest comes days after Ross’ former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of physical assault in a series of Instagram posts, where she shared photos of an injured lip she claimed he caused about a month ago.

Kendrick said she ended the relationship after the alleged incident, describing how she was treated like a “punching bag.”

Authorities have yet to confirm if Kendrick is the alleged victim in the current criminal case.

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