Rick Ross Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges

Rapper Rick Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, has been arrested and charged with battery and battery by strangulation in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The charges stem from accusations made by an ex-girlfriend who alleged a domestic violence incident occurred on August 28. Ross, 50, turned himself in on Thursday morning after the ex-girlfriend reported the alleged incident to the police. He was booked at 6:10 a.m. and is being held on a $5,000 bond. According to an arrest affidavit, the ex-girlfriend claimed Ross became enraged over a social media photo and assaulted her. She alleged he slapped her, struck her multiple times in the chest, choked her by twisting the collar of her hoodie until she could not breathe, and slammed her into a wall by her ponytail. The affidavit also states she accused him of leaving her with a busted lip and attempting to spray her with a shower head.

Ross has pleaded not guilty to both charges. His attorneys, Steve Sadow and Bradley Horenstein, released a statement asserting his innocence. "William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear," the statement read. The attorneys also alleged that the accuser did not file a police report until a month after the claimed incident. "Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges. He respectfully requests that his friends, fans and the general public not prejudge the situation and allow the judicial process to run its course," his counsel maintained. Representatives for Ross have been contacted for comment.