RICK ROSS ARRESTED ON DOMESTIC BATTERY AND STRANGULATION CHARGES

Rick Ross was arrested in Miami Beach and booked at the Turner Guilford Knight correctional centre at 6.10am local time on Thursday, according to local police. He faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanour count of battery, Miami-Dade jail and court records show. Bond has been set at $6,000, according to those records. Local authorities have not disclosed the circumstances of the arrest, the details of the alleged incident, or the identity of the alleged victim. Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts, has retained attorney Bradley Horenstein, court records say, and his arraignment is scheduled for 22 October.

The arrest follows allegations made days earlier by Rick Ross's former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, who accused him of physical abuse. Kendrick shared images on Instagram, including one of a swollen lip she said Ross caused, writing that it showed "the day Rick busted my lip and the day I left." In further posts, she wrote that a man who hits a partner once will do it again, and urged others in similar situations to leave. Rick Ross is a longtime Miami resident with five number one albums and collaborations with artists including Drake, DJ Khaled and Nicki Minaj. He released his twelfth studio album, Set In Stone, in July, featuring Gucci Mane, The-Dream and Yung Miami.

Rick Ross's representative has not yet responded to requests for comment. The case is scheduled to proceed with his arraignment on 22 October, when the charges will formally be addressed in court. Authorities have not indicated whether further details about the alleged incident will be released ahead of that date.