Additional Coverage:
- American college student arrested in Denmark speaks out: ‘We had done nothing wrong’ (abcnews.go.com)
Two American college students, detained in Denmark for nearly two weeks following an alleged altercation with an Uber driver, are now free, but their ordeal is far from over. Nineteen-year-old Owen Ray, a student at Miami University in Ohio, spoke out on Monday, just hours after his release, expressing shock and maintaining his and his friend’s innocence.
The incident began on the night of March 31, during the students’ spring break trip to Copenhagen. According to Ray’s account, provided through the family’s U.S.-based attorney, the trouble started when they realized they’d given the Uber driver the wrong address.
The driver allegedly refused to take them to the correct location, prompting the students to cancel the ride and walk away. A few blocks later, the driver reportedly confronted them, claiming he hadn’t been paid, despite already receiving payment.
Ray alleges the driver became aggressive, threatening to “call 10 guys,” which led to a physical altercation.
Copenhagen police subsequently charged the two students with common assault and detained them at the airport on April 1 as they prepared to fly home, deeming them a “flight risk.” Ray described the initial shock of the arrest and the subsequent 10-day imprisonment, extended later to April 24.
He recounted the difficulty of contacting his family, finally managing to text his mother after 36 hours. She then flew to Denmark to support him.
During their detention, Ray and his friend relied on each other, passing the time playing cards, chess, and reading. Following a successful appeal last week, the two were released on Monday.
However, their passports remain with Danish authorities, and they are required to check in with police daily while awaiting further developments in the case, which could include dropped charges or a trial date. Ray expressed his hope that the matter will be resolved quickly, allowing him to return home by Easter.
Uber stated they are taking the reports of violence seriously and that any further inquiries regarding the investigation should be directed to the Danish police. The U.S. State Department confirmed they are aware of the situation and providing consular assistance to the detained students.