American rapper Rick Ross has been taken into custody in Miami Beach, Florida, over allegations of domestic violence.
The 50-year-old music star, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at about 6:10 a.m., according to jail records.
Authorities said he is facing one felony charge of battery by strangulation and a separate misdemeanor charge of battery, both linked to an alleged domestic incident.
Details contained in an arrest affidavit indicate that the case involves a woman who told police she had been in a relationship with the rapper for about a year. She alleged that a confrontation began after Ross noticed she had been tagged in an Instagram post, which led to accusations of infidelity.
According to her account, the situation escalated during an argument in a bathroom, where she claimed Ross physically assaulted her. She alleged he struck her multiple times, grabbed her clothing, twisted it around her neck and choked her, leaving her unable to breathe.
The woman further alleged that the rapper pulled her by the hair, slammed her against a wall, hit her in the face and pushed her to the ground before attempting to spray her with a showerhead.
Ross has denied the allegations through his lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, who described the claims as false and urged the public to allow the legal process to take its course.
“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein said, adding that the case should not be judged prematurely.
The rapper is expected to be arraigned on October 22.
The arrest comes shortly after Ross’ former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of assault in a series of Instagram posts, sharing images of an injured lip she claimed resulted from a previous incident. She said she ended the relationship following the alleged abuse.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Kendrick is the complainant in the current case.