Prosecutors drop felony charge against Rick Ross in domestic violence case

Prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against rapper Rick Ross, a month after he was arrested in Miami Beach when a woman he was living with told police he hit her.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office filed paperwork Thursday to drop a felony charge of battery by strangulation because of “insufficient evidence,” The Associated Press reported.

Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, still faces a misdemeanor charge of battery domestic violence. The 50-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His attorney said Friday that his client would continue to defend himself against the allegations.

Ross surrendered at the Miami Beach police station on Oct. 1, two days after the woman filed a report. He was freed on bail several hours later.

According to an arrest report, the woman told detectives Ross accused her of cheating on him and struck her multiple times on Aug. 28. She said he also choked her with the collar of her shirt and slammed her into a wall.

Ross rose to fame in 2006 with his debut single “Hustlin’.” His latest album, “Set In Stone,” was released in July.