Two American college students on a spring break trip found themselves in a Danish prison for two weeks following an altercation with an Uber driver over a mistaken address. Owen Ray, a 20-year-old student at the University of Miami in Ohio, and his friend from the Chicago area were detained at a Copenhagen airport on April 1, a day after a misunderstanding during an Uber ride led to a heated argument with the driver.
According to Ray’s mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, the students accidentally input the wrong destination address in the Uber app. When they realized the mistake, they asked the driver to let them out so they could order a new ride. However, the driver circled back, accusing them of not paying for the ride, despite evidence showing that they did.
The situation escalated when the driver allegedly kicked Ray in the groin, prompting the student to push him away, causing the driver to fall. Ray and his friend then fled the scene, but were later arrested at the airport while waiting to board their flights back home.
Ray has been detained without being charged, as he is considered a “flight risk.” His friend’s current status remains unknown. Buchen-Ray expressed concern about the impact of her son’s imprisonment on his well-being, as he is confined to his cell for 23 hours a day and only allowed to speak to her once a week.
The students have already missed two weeks of school, and their case is expected to go to trial sometime this month, with a possible delay due to a court holiday for Easter. Illinois US Senator Dick Durbin’s office has been in contact with the family and the US embassy in Denmark to provide assistance in this challenging situation.
As Buchen-Ray prepares to travel to Copenhagen to support her son, she remains worried about the long-term consequences of his time in jail. The family’s attorney, Jordan Finfer, is working towards a resolution in the case, hoping for a fair trial and eventual release for Owen Ray.
