The two American college students were released after spending two weeks in a Danish prison on suspicion of an Uber conflict while traveling for spring break.
According to Ray’s family, 19-year-old Owen Ray and his unknown friends, both U.S. citizens, were traveling when they were detained at Copenhagen Airport on April 1.
The two friends were charged with a common attack following a dispute with an Uber driver, Copenhagen police confirmed with Fox News Digital. Ray and his friends were sentenced to 10 days of pre-trial custody, extended until April 24th.
On Monday, Ray and his friends were released from a Danish prison after being arrested earlier this month.
“We are relieved that Owen has been released from a Danish prison after the attack on March 31, when he and his friends were suffering at the hands of an Uber driver,” a family spokesman said in a statement in Fox News Digital.
Passport attacks of Iowa students in Dominican Republic raise red flags for Americans: what do you know
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)
However, according to Ray’s family, Danish authorities maintain ownership of the passports of two friends.
“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 family said in a statement. “The facts make it clear that Owen is the victim of this case, and we are urging Danish officials to allow him to return to the United States without delay.”
Danish authorities did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Michigan couple were detained in Mexico for more than a month and hugged the head of a timeshare conflict
Ray, a student at the University of Miami in Ohio, studied abroad and visited Denmark during spring break. On March 31, when Ray and his friends were at Uber, his mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, said when Ray entered the wrong address on the Uber app and asked the driver if he and his friends could leave the vehicle. Fox 32 Chicago.
According to Buchen-Ray, the Uber driver called the police and threatened to kick Ray at the gro caliber, and the situation escalated quickly. Rey reportedly pushed the Uber driver into the ground and the pair escaped.
“They’re back at the hotel,” Bucchen Ray said. “They had a flight to leave it the next morning, so they cleaned up at the hotel.”
The next day, the two students were arrested by local police when they arrived at Copenhagen Airport to get home.
“Our family is heartbroken and we hope that our son’s home will celebrate Easter this week with us,” a family spokesman said in a previous statement.
Americans considering spring break holidays in Mexico warned of murder spikes
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)
Later that day, two students appeared in court and were charged with common assault, Copenhagen police confirmed with Fox News Digital. Ray and his friends were sentenced to 10 days of pre-trial custody, previously extended until April 24th.
“We are aware of the media coverage of two US citizens detained in Denmark,” the US State Department said in a statement in Fox News Digital. “Copenhagen embassy staff provide consul assistance. This department is not prioritized over the safety and security of American citizens overseas.”
Ray’s Denmark-based lawyer did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“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.”
The University of Miami in Ohio did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Daniella Genovese of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
