Rick Ross Bails Out, Calls Strangulation Charges 'Fabricated'

Rick Ross surrendered to Miami Beach police on felony strangulation and battery charges, posted $5,000 bond, and insists the allegations are fabricated.

Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, surrendered to Miami Beach detectives Thursday morning and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., according to CBS News Miami. He faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. Per CBS News and NBC News, the charges stem from an alleged August 28 incident at his Star Island mansion that the accuser, described in the affidavit as his girlfriend of about a year who lived with him, reported to police on September 29. Ross, 50, has pleaded not guilty.

The arrest lands on an artist who has spent two decades building Miami's place in hip-hop. Outlets note Ross rose to fame in 2006 with "Hustlin'", signed to Def Jam under Jay-Z, launched Maybach Music Group in 2008 to boost Wale, Meek Mill and French Montana, and earned nine Grammy nominations. The Associated Press, cited by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, notes his most recent album, "Set In Stone," was released in July. The Guardian adds that the arrest came days after his ex-girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick alleged on Instagram that he was physically abusive to her, posting photos of what she said was a swollen lip Ross caused.

According to NBC 6 South Florida, the arrest report alleges Ross was "enraged" on the morning of August 28 after his girlfriend was tagged in an Instagram photo, then slapped her and questioned her about lying. The affidavit alleges he struck her in the chest several times, choked her to the point she could not breathe by grabbing and twisting the collar of her hoodie, grabbed her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall, causing a busted lip, then pushed her to the floor and tried to spray her with a shower head. NBC 6 reports she provided timestamped photographs of her injuries, and Miami Beach Police spokesman Christopher Bess said investigators collected a victim statement, photographs and surveillance video to establish probable cause.

Ross denied the charges outside the jailhouse, telling reporters, "I am totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me," according to ABC News. The Associated Press reports defense attorney Steve Sadow said Ross is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose motivations are unclear, noting "the ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place." Attorney Bradley Horenstein told CBS News Miami that "the allegations are false. He's innocent." NBC 6 adds Ross quipped about traveling to Dubai and Paris and planning "a bowl of rigatoni with heavy marinara Sunday."

Ross appeared via Zoom in Miami-Dade bond court before Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer, who said she reviewed the arrest report and found probable cause, per CBS News. Here the outlets diverge: CBS News reports the judge set bond at $4,000 on the strangulation charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanor, totaling $5,000, while The Guardian cites Miami-Dade jail and court records listing bond at $6,000. Glazer issued a stay-away order barring direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim and ordered Ross to surrender firearms, according to CBS News. Per NBC 6, Horenstein asked for expedited release because Ross is "a celebrity," and Glazer replied she had "no idea who you are except as somebody here in the court who's going to be treated fairly."

An arraignment is scheduled for October 22, according to court records cited by multiple outlets. Until then, the case sits at a sharp evidentiary standoff: police describe what spokesman Bess called "a very violent attack" backed by photographs and surveillance video, while Ross's camp points to the month-long delay in reporting and calls the allegations fabricated. The stakes reach beyond one courtroom — Maybach Music Group's founder faces a stay-away order, firearm surrender and the reputational weight of a second round of abuse accusations in a week, with The Guardian noting Kendrick's public warnings to fans.