Rapper Rick Ross was arrested in Miami this morning, Thursday, Oct. 1, and charged with two counts of battery, which were both characterized as involving domestic violence.
According to Miami-Dade County jail records, Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, was arrested around 6 a.m. on a felony charge of battery by strangulation, as well as a misdemeanor battery charge. Ross's bond has been set at $6,000.
He is being held in Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is set to be arraigned on Oct. 22, according to USA TODAY.
This arrest comes after influencer and Ross’s ex-girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick alleged that the rapper was physically abusive to her, according to PEOPLE Magazine. Kendrick shared photos of the alleged abuse from Ross to her Instagram
story on Sept. 26.
“It’s always good until it isn’t. If a man hits you one time, he will do it again. Don’t give him the opportunity. Value your life and leave,” Kendrick wrote on her story.
Why was Rick Ross arrested?
According to records viewed by CBS News, Ross was arrested in connection with a domestic violence incident at his Star Island mansion, where a woman accused him of repeatedly striking her and restricting her breathing during an altercation in August.
It is unknown what the relationship was between the victim and Ross.
Where is Star Island in Florida?
Star Island is an exclusive, man-made residential island in Miami's Biscayne Bay. Other celebrities that have called Star Island home are Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan and Shaquille O'Neal.
Has Rick Ross been arrested before?
USA TODAY reported the rapper and his bodyguard were arrested in 2015 in Georgia on kidnapping and assault charges, after both were accused of forcing a landscaper into a guesthouse and beating him in the head with a handgun over money he owed the rapper.
Two years later, Ross pleaded no contest to a felony count of aggravated assault and five misdemeanors – assault, battery, cannabis possession and two counts of pointing a pistol at someone – and was sentenced to 60 months' probation and required to pay a $10,000 fine.
Since he was a first-time felony offender, the conviction was eventually erased from his record.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rapper Rick Ross arrested in Florida on domestic battery charges
