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Rick Ross arrested in Miami Beach on felony battery by strangulation charge

Rapper Rick Ross, 50, was arrested in Miami Beach on 1 October on felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges, both domestic-violence related. His lawyers deny the allegations; outlets differ on the bond total.

6 outlets · 3L · 1C · 2R First reported Account updated
Image: CBS News
Image: Hindustan Times
Image: IJR
Image: The Independent
Image: Daily Mail
Image: NBC News

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The story, neutrally told

Rapper Rick Ross, 50, legally William Leonard Roberts II, was arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday 1 October on one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, both listed as domestic violence. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., and his arraignment is set for 22 October. CBS News reported that Ross appeared by Zoom in bond court, where Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause, described the report of the 28 August incident as delayed, and set bond at $4,000 on the felony and $1,000 on the misdemeanor, $5,000 in total.

Other outlets give different figures: IJR and Hindustan Times say the total bond is $6,000, while The Independent and the Daily Mail say $5,000. The judge also issued a stay-away order covering the alleged victim, who was identified in court only by initials, and ordered Ross to surrender any firearms. According to an arrest report cited by IJR, the alleged incident began after an argument over a woman being tagged in an Instagram photo. The woman told police Ross slapped her, struck her chest, choked her by twisting her hoodie collar, slammed her against a wall by the ponytail and struck her face, injuring her lip.

The Daily Mail, citing an arrest affidavit, said the woman alleged Ross woke her around 7:44 a.m. on 28 August, 'enraged' over a tagged photo. It also cited law enforcement sources speaking to TMZ as saying Ross turned himself in two days after she called police. Days earlier, Ross's former girlfriend Jazzma Kendrick had accused him on social media of injuring her lip about a month before. CBS News and Hindustan Times said it was not immediately clear whether her post relates to the charges, and IJR said authorities have not confirmed a link. Ross's lawyers deny the allegations. Bradley Horenstein told CBS News Miami the allegations are false and asked the public not to rush to judgment. A statement from Horenstein and Steve Sadow called Ross wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend 'whose true motivations are unclear' and noted she filed no police report until a month after the alleged incident.

The Independent, IJR and the Daily Mail report that Ross has pleaded not guilty; the arrest and charges are allegations, and nothing has been proven.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left3 outlets

Framing
CBS News gives the most detailed court-based account, with bond hearing, judge's orders and the defence denial. The Independent leads with the defence claim that Ross is wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend.
Emphasis
Court procedure and conditions of release (CBS); the defence statement and the delay in reporting (Independent).
Leaves out or plays down
Neither gives the arrest-report details of the alleged assault. The Independent does not mention the judge's findings or Kendrick's post.
Charged language
“wrongfully accused”
For example
“Ross appeared via Zoom in Miami-Dade bond court Thursday morning, where Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer said she had reviewed the arrest report and found probable cause in the case.” — CBS News
“An attorney for Ross claimed he is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear” — The Independent

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Hindustan Times presents an explainer, based largely on CBS News reporting, with question-style headings and repeated cautions that the case is at the allegation stage.
Emphasis
What is and isn't known; that the arrest does not establish guilt; not assuming a link to Kendrick's post.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not report the judge's findings, stay-away order or arrest-report details. Its total bond differs from CBS's.
For example
“The case remains at the allegation stage.” — Hindustan Times
“Details about the incident that led to Ross's arrest remain unclear.” — Hindustan Times

Right2 outlets

Framing
IJR and the Daily Mail lead with the accuser's alleged account from arrest documents alongside the denial. The Daily Mail adds a mugshot and a tabloid-style account of a 'jealous fury'.
Emphasis
Graphic arrest-report details, Instagram photo trigger, the accuser's account, and the lawyers' statement.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither mentions the judge's probable-cause finding or the stay-away and firearms orders. They also disagree on the bond amount.
Charged language
“jealous fury”“enraged”
For example
“choked her by twisting her hoodie collar, slammed her by the ponytail against a wall, and struck her face, injuring her lip.” — IJR
“after an ex-girlfriend accused him of choking her in a jealous fury” — Daily Mail