American rapper Rick Ross has been released after posting a $5,000 bond following his arrest in Miami Beach on domestic violence-related battery charges.
The 50-year-old rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach police early Thursday, October 1, 2026. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at about 6:10 a.m. on one felony charge of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery charge, with both charges listed as involving domestic violence.
Ross appeared before Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer by video during a bond hearing. His attorney, Bradley Horenstein, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. The judge set Ross' total bond at $5,000 and issued a stay-away order involving the alleged victim.
The court ordered Ross to have no direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim, including through third parties and social media, and imposed additional conditions while the case proceeds.
Ross later left the correctional center after posting bond and denied the allegations against him.
“I am totally innocent of these fabricated allegations against me,” Ross said after his release. He also said he planned to travel to Dubai and Paris over the weekend.
Ross' attorney, Bradley Horenstein, also maintained that Ross is innocent and asked the public not to prejudge the case while the legal proceedings continue. Horenstein said the allegations were false and urged people to allow the legal process to proceed.
The charges stem from an alleged incident at Ross' Star Island residence on August 28. According to the arrest report, a woman who told investigators that she had been in a relationship with Ross for about a year reported the alleged incident to police on September 29.
According to the arrest report, the woman alleged that Ross struck her multiple times during an altercation and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of the hoodie she was wearing. She also alleged that Ross grabbed her ponytail, slammed her against a wall and struck her in the face, causing a busted lip.
The arrest report also contains additional allegations concerning the incident, including an allegation that Ross pushed the woman to the floor and attempted to spray her with water from a shower head. These allegations come from the police report and have not been established as facts in court.
Police said the woman provided photographs documenting injuries and that detectives obtained surveillance video related to the alleged incident. Miami Beach police said investigators obtained a victim statement, photographs and video and determined there was probable cause for the arrest.
Ross turned himself in voluntarily and, according to police, declined to provide a statement about the allegations on the advice of his lawyer.
The alleged victim has not been publicly identified by name. The allegations described in the arrest report have not been proven in court.
Ross' arraignment is scheduled for October 22, 2026. He has pleaded not guilty and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence as the case proceeds through the court system.
Source: NBC 6 South Florida