Rick Ross charged with battery, strangulation after alleged domestic incident

American rapper Rick Ross was reportedly arrested Thursday in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident at his Star Island mansion on August 28, according to media reports. According to CBS News, Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, voluntarily surrendered to detectives at Miami Beach Police headquarters on Thursday before being taken into custody. He was reportedly booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at approximately 6:10 am.

Ross is facing one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanour count of battery. According to the arrest affidavit cited by CBS News, Ross and the alleged victim had been in a relationship for about a year and were living together at the time of the alleged incident. The woman reportedly told investigators that she was awakened by Ross at around 7:44 am on August 28.

She alleged that he was angry after seeing that she had been tagged in an Instagram photo and questioned whether she had been dishonest with him before allegedly slapping her in the face. She further alleged that Ross accused her of being involved with another person and continued questioning her while she was in a bathroom. According to the affidavit, the woman told police that Ross struck her in the chest several times and restricted her breathing by grabbing and twisting the collar of the hoodie she was wearing.

The woman also alleged that Ross grabbed her by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face, resulting in a busted lip. According to the report, Ross then pushed her to the floor, turned on the shower and attempted to spray her with the showerhead. She reportedly managed to leave the bathroom and later gathered her belongings and left the residence after Ross left.

CBS News reported that Ross was released from jail Thursday after a Miami-Dade judge found probable cause in connection with the domestic violence allegations. The judge also ordered him to stay away from the alleged victim. Ross has denied the allegations and maintained his innocence.