Rick Ross walked out of a Miami Beach jail Thursday morning and said one thing plainly: he's innocent. The charges he's walking away from, for now, are not small -- felony battery by strangulation among them.
What he's charged with
The rapper, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, turned himself in to Miami Beach police on October 1 and was charged with felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery, according to NBC News. He was released on $5,000 bond for the strangulation charge and $1,000 for the battery charge.
What the police report alleges
According to the police affidavit, the alleged incident happened August 28 at Ross's Star Island home, with a woman he had dated and lived with for about a year. She told police Ross became angry after she was tagged in an Instagram photo, accused her of dishonesty, and slapped her across the face. The report states he then struck her in the chest multiple times, grabbed and twisted the collar of her hoodie to restrict her breathing, grabbed her ponytail, and slammed her against a wall. She said she escaped and later returned for her belongings after Ross had left.
Ross's response
"I'm totally innocent of these fabricated allegations," Ross said as he left jail, according to NBC News. His attorneys said he has pleaded not guilty to the charges and asked the public to "allow the judicial process to run its course." Ross said he planned to travel to Dubai Friday and Paris Saturday.
What's next
Ross's case will proceed through the Miami-Dade court system following his not-guilty plea. IF Daily will follow the case as it develops.
