US rapper Rick Ross has been taken into custody in Miami Beach, Florida, over accusations of assaulting ex-girlfriend.
The artist, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts, was detained by Miami Beach police in the early hours of Thursday and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre at 6:10am, according to Miami-Dade jail and court records.
The 50-year-old musician is facing one felony charge of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery, both of which are classified as domestic violence, CBS News Miami has reported.
Court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun indicate that a woman who had dated Ross for roughly one year informed officers that the rapper flew into a rage after learning she had been tagged in a photo on Instagram.
The woman claimed Ross confronted her about the picture and accused her of having an affair with another man.
She said the rapper slapped her across the face and continued interrogating her while she was inside the bathroom.
According to the affidavit, the woman stated that Ross hit her repeatedly in the chest before seizing the collar of her hoodie, twisting it around her neck and squeezing until she struggled to breathe.
She also accused Ross of pulling her by her ponytail and throwing her against a wall.
The woman added that Ross punched her in the face while she was bent over, leaving her with an injured lip.
She further alleged that the rapper shoved her to the ground, switched on the shower and tried to spray her with the showerhead.
Meanwhile, Ross’ attorney, Bradley Horenstein, has dismissed the accusations, calling on the public to reserve judgment until the legal process runs its course.
“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,” he stated.
Bond for the battery by strangulation charge has been set at $5,000, while the battery charge carries a $1,000 bond, making the combined total $6,000.
The artist, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts, was detained by Miami Beach police in the early hours of Thursday and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre at 6:10am, according to Miami-Dade jail and court records.
The 50-year-old musician is facing one felony charge of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery, both of which are classified as domestic violence, CBS News Miami has reported.
Court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun indicate that a woman who had dated Ross for roughly one year informed officers that the rapper flew into a rage after learning she had been tagged in a photo on Instagram.
The woman claimed Ross confronted her about the picture and accused her of having an affair with another man.
She said the rapper slapped her across the face and continued interrogating her while she was inside the bathroom.
According to the affidavit, the woman stated that Ross hit her repeatedly in the chest before seizing the collar of her hoodie, twisting it around her neck and squeezing until she struggled to breathe.
She also accused Ross of pulling her by her ponytail and throwing her against a wall.
The woman added that Ross punched her in the face while she was bent over, leaving her with an injured lip.
She further alleged that the rapper shoved her to the ground, switched on the shower and tried to spray her with the showerhead.
Meanwhile, Ross’ attorney, Bradley Horenstein, has dismissed the accusations, calling on the public to reserve judgment until the legal process runs its course.
“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,” he stated.
Bond for the battery by strangulation charge has been set at $5,000, while the battery charge carries a $1,000 bond, making the combined total $6,000.
