Prosecutors dropped a felony battery by strangulation charge against rapper Rick Ross, citing insufficient evidence, but he still faces a misdemeanor domestic violence battery charge stemming from an alleged incident at his Star Island home.
The 50-year-old rapper had pleaded not guilty after his October 1 surrender to Miami police, as he faced battery by strangulation and a separate misdemeanour battery charge. His former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, told investigators that he attacked her on August 28 at his Star Island home, where they had been living together. Ross denied her account. The allegations became public before his arrest. Kendrick shared photographs of what she described as injuries and said she had left the relationship. Jail records showed he was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m. that morning, according to NBC 6. At his first court appearance, Judge Mindy Glazer set total bond at $5,000. She also ordered Ross to stay away from Kendrick and surrender any firearms.
Kendrick told police an Instagram photo in which she was tagged led Ross to accuse her of seeing someone else. She said he hit her when she denied it. Her account also included claims that he struck her chest and pulled her by her ponytail. Police said they had gathered material beyond her statement. Miami Beach Police spokesperson Christopher Bess told WSVN that detectives collected injury photographs and surveillance video of the alleged incident. He said their investigation established probable cause for the arrest.