Rick Ross — born William Leonard Roberts, longtime Miami resident, owner of five No. 1 albums — was booked at Turner Guilford Knight correctional center at 6:10am Thursday on one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. Bond was set at $6,000. Local authorities have not specified the alleged victim or the circumstances of the incident. The arrest came days after Ross's ex-girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick made public allegations of physical abuse via Instagram. Kendrick posted images of a swollen lip she attributed to Ross, writing: 'He saw a punching bag.' She added: 'The day Rick busted my lip and the day I left.' Her posts included a direct message to others in similar situations: 'If a man hits you one time, he will do it again. Don't give him the opportunity. Value your life and leave.' Local court records confirm Ross has retained attorney Bradley Horenstein. His arraignment is scheduled for October 22. The Guardian has reached out to the musician's representative for comment; no response had been received at time of publication. Ross released his 12th studio album, Set In Stone, in July, featuring Gucci Mane, The-Dream, and Yung Miami. His career includes high-profile collaborations with Drake, DJ Khaled, and Nicki Minaj. The charges, if they proceed, represent a serious legal juncture for one of Miami's most commercially successful artists. The felony strangulation charge carries significantly heavier legal weight than the misdemeanor battery count — strangulation in domestic contexts is recognized by law enforcement and advocates as a high-lethality-risk behavior. The charges and Kendrick's public account together represent the clearest public accounting of allegations against Ross to date. No trial date has been set.
