American rapper Rick Ross has been arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, over allegations of domestic violence.
The hip-hop star, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, was taken into custody in the early hours of Thursday and booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., according to Miami-Dade County jail records.
The 50-year-old rapper is facing one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. Both charges are classified as domestic violence, according to CBS Miami.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by The U.S. Sun, the alleged victim, a woman who said she had been in a relationship with the rapper for about a year, told police the incident started after Ross saw she was tagged in a photo on Instagram.
She alleged that Ross confronted her over the post, accusing her of being involved with another man, before slapping her in the face.
She further claimed that the confrontation continued in the bathroom, where Ross allegedly hit her several times in the chest.
The woman also alleged that Ross grabbed the collar of her hoodie, twisted it around her neck and choked her until she struggled to breathe.
She further alleged that Ross grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face while she was bent over, leaving her with an injury to her lip.
She also claimed that he pushed her to the floor, turned on the shower and attempted to spray her with the showerhead.
Reacting to the arrest, Ross’ lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, dismissed the allegations, insisting his client is innocent.
“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He’s innocent. Everything is going to come out. We just ask that you allow the process to play out before rushing to judgment, because the truth will come in,” Horenstein told CBS News Miami.
Ross is expected to appear in court for his arraignment on October 22.
The arrest comes days after Ross’ former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, publicly accused him of physical assault in a series of Instagram posts.
Kendrick shared photos showing an injured lip, which she claimed was caused by the rapper about a month earlier.
She said she ended their relationship following the alleged incident and described the alleged treatment as being made to feel like a “punching bag.”
Authorities have not confirmed whether Kendrick is the alleged victim in the current criminal case.
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