Rick Ross Arrested in Miami Following Domestic Battery and Strangulation Charges

Rick Ross, the rapper whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, turned himself in to Miami Beach police early Thursday morning after being accused of domestic violence at his Star Island home.

Ross now faces a felony charge for battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor battery charge. Officers booked him into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at around 6 a.m., and he appeared in bond court later that morning.

Photo: Getty images

The woman identified in the arrest affidavit by the initials J.K. has been publicly identified in reports as Jazzma Kendrick, a Miami-based model and content creator. Kendrick and Ross were first publicly linked in August 2025 and had an on-and-off relationship. They were seen together at events including the 2026 BET Awards in June.

According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged incident happened on August 28 while the pair were living together. The argument reportedly began after Kendrick was tagged in an Instagram photo. She told investigators that Ross woke her up and questioned her about the photograph, asking whether she had been lying to him.

The confrontation allegedly continued later that morning in a bathroom, where Ross questioned Kendrick about another person. She alleged that he slapped her and struck her in the chest several times before grabbing the collar of her hoodie and twisting it around her neck, restricting her breathing.

Kendrick further alleged that Ross grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her against a wall before striking her in the face, leaving her with a split lip. She told police that he then pushed her to the floor, turned on the shower and attempted to spray her with the showerhead. She later provided investigators with timestamped photographs of her injuries, while detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the property.

Kendrick reported the alleged incident to police on September 29, about a month after it reportedly happened. Days earlier, on September 26, she had publicly accused Ross of physically abusing her on Instagram and shared photographs of an injured lip. She said the incident that caused the injury was the point at which she left the relationship.

Photo: Getty images

Ross has denied the allegations, calling them false. His attorneys have also said he was wrongfully accused and asked the public to allow the legal process to run its course.

In court, Ross’s attorney entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. The judge set his bond at $5,000 and ordered him to stay away from the alleged victim. Ross was released later that morning.

Ross is due back in court for arraignment on October 22. The charges remain allegations, and he has not been convicted of a crime.

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