Two American college students arrested in Denmark after alleged disputes with an Uber driver face yet another hurdle abroad as they try to return to the US.
Owen Ray, 19, studying at the University of Miami in Ohio, and his friends, reportedly seized their passports by Danish authorities after being released from prison on Monday.
“We are deeply concerned that Danish authorities will forfeit his passport and will not allow him to return to the United States. What we understand is unusual in the process of the Danish court,” Ray’s parents, Andy Ray and Sarah Buchen Ray, said in a statement in Fox News Digital.
American college student on spring break after suspected dispute with Uber driver
Owen Ray smiles at the undated photo. Ray and his friends were arrested at Copenhagen Airport after alleged disputes with an Uber driver while traveling for spring break. (Personal courtesy of the Rei family)
According to Ray’s family, the two friends were enjoying their spring break trip when they called Uber on March 31. When the driver arrives, Ray realizes he has entered the wrong destination address and reports to be taken to another hotel.
According to a family spokesman, the driver refused to take Ray and his friends to a new location, and the pair left the car while cancelling the ride, causing a cancellation fee.
The pair started walking towards the hotel, calling Replacement Uber. A few minutes later, the former driver began chasing after Ray and his friends, threatening to call police, claiming he had not received payments, a family spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
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The screenshot shows the receipt of an Uber ride suspected of causing an argument between his friend Owen Ray and the Uber driver. The two university students have been charged with simple assault and are currently in custody in Denmark. (Personal courtesy of the Rei family)
Ray reportedly told the driver to call authorities.
“We said, ‘We’ve done nothing wrong. We’ve done nothing wrong.” Then he began an argument with us. I said “Good Morning America.” on monday.
However, the situation reportedly escalated into a physical altercation before the pair escaped and returned to the hotel.
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Passengers will be greeted at Copenhagen Kastrup Airport with a sign that reads “Welcome to Copenhagen Airport.” (Steffen Trumpf/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
The next morning, Ray and his friends arrived at Copenhagen airport and were arrested by Danish authorities. The two friends were charged with simple attacks and appeared in court later that day, a Copenhagen police spokesman confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“We were extremely shocked by the fact that we were arrested in this case,” Ray said. “We hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Ray and his friends were sentenced to pre-trial custody for the first 10 days due to an investigation underway. However, their ruling was subsequently extended until April 24th.
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Owen Ray smiles at the undated photo. Ray and his friends were arrested at Copenhagen Airport after alleged disputes with an Uber driver while traveling for spring break. (Personal courtesy of the Rei family)
According to Copenhagen police, a friend was released after two weeks in a Danish prison on Monday, but was ordered to check in with authorities daily after confiscating his passport.
“They are still being charged in this case, so confiscating their passports until court hearing is a standard procedure,” a Copenhagen police spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Their next court hearing is set for April 24th.
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“The facts make it clear that Owen is the victim of this case and urges Danish officials to allow him to return to the United States without delay,” Ray’s parents said in a statement.
The incident was reportedly captured in Uber driver Dashcam, and has been entered into evidence in the incident.
“Safety for everyone using the Uber app is a top priority and we take reports of violence very seriously,” Uber said in a statement in Fox News Digital. “The driver reported to Uber that he was attacked by two riders who were later arrested by Danish police.”
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Owen Ray smiles at the undated photo. Ray and his friends are charged with simple attacks following a dispute with an Uber driver while the pair travels in Denmark. (Personal courtesy of the Rei family)
Ray’s Denmark-based lawyer did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“We know about media coverage of two US citizens detained in Denmark.” The US Department of State said In a statement to Fox News Digital. “Copenhagen embassy staff provide consul assistance. This department is not prioritized over the safety and security of American citizens overseas.”
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The University of Miami in Ohio did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
“I hope that Denmark and the legal authorities here can do it, and I can stay home with my family because the US government can do what they can to help us and help them get released by Easter,” Ray told “Good Morning America.”
“We are completely innocent, so at this point, the Danish police and prosecutors are going to lower the case and I think the best case is for them to return us their passports and allow us to return to the US.”
