Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach after a woman accused the rapper of repeatedly hitting her, restricting her breathing, and slamming her against a wall during an altercation at his Star Island home. Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, surrendered to Miami Beach police on Thursday morning, 1 October. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre in Miami-Dade County at 6.10am.
The 50-year-old rapper faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery, with charges listed as involving domestic violence. Ross appeared by video before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer later that morning. The judge set bond at $4,000 for the strangulation charge and $1,000 for the battery charge, bringing the total set during the hearing to $5,000, though jail records later listed a combined bond of $6,000.
In addition to the bond, Judge Glazer imposed a strict stay-away order. Ross was ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the woman, including through friends, third parties, social media, or other electronic means. He was also instructed to stay away from her home, workplace, and school. Furthermore, the rapper was ordered to surrender any firearms and is prohibited from possessing weapons while the case continues. His arraignment is scheduled for 22 October.
The arrest followed a complaint made to police on 29 September regarding an incident that allegedly took place on the morning of 28 August. The woman, who lived with Ross at the time, told investigators they had been in a relationship for about a year. According to the arrest affidavit, the confrontation began around 7.44am when Ross became angry because the woman had been tagged in an Instagram photograph. She alleged that he questioned her honesty before slapping her repeatedly in the face.
The violence reportedly escalated in a bathroom, where the woman said Ross accused her of being involved with another man. She told investigators that he struck her in the chest several times and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of her hoodie. The affidavit further alleges that Ross grabbed her by her ponytail, slammed her against a wall, and struck her in the face while she was bent over, splitting her lip. The report also states he pushed her to the floor and tried to spray her with a shower head.
The woman eventually managed to leave the bathroom and the residence after Ross had departed. Investigators noted that she provided a sworn statement and timestamped photographs of her injuries. Police also reviewed surveillance footage from the Star Island property, which reportedly showed a friend arriving to collect her but being turned away. The affidavit states that Ross later posted a photograph on Instagram showing that friend at the property.
While identified in court by her initials, the woman has since been publicly identified as Jazzma Kendrick, Ross’s former girlfriend. Kendrick addressed the incident on social media days before the arrest, posting images of a swollen lip with the caption: “The day Rick busted my lip and the day I left.” In another post, she warned others about domestic violence, writing, “If a man hits you one time, he will do it again. Don’t give him the opportunity. Value your life and leave.”
Ross’s lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, has rejected the accusations, maintaining the rapper’s innocence. “All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out,” Horenstein said, asking the public to allow the legal process to play out before rushing to judgment. During the hearing, Horenstein also argued that Ross’s celebrity status should allow for a quick release.
This case brings renewed scrutiny to Ross’s personal life. A major force in hip-hop since his 2006 debut Port of Miami, Ross is known for hits like “Hustlin’” and his association with the Miami music scene. However, this is not his first recent legal issue; in 2024, he was arrested in Georgia following an altercation, and he was previously involved in a physical confrontation during a performance in Vancouver.
As the 22 October arraignment approaches, the investigation remains centered on the August confrontation, the forensic evidence provided by Kendrick, and the surveillance material reviewed by detectives. The case joins a series of high-profile domestic violence allegations in the music industry that continue to spark debate over the accountability of major performers.