Latest news with #OwenRay
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
US college students arrested abroad fight to get home after passports seized: 'Done nothing wrong'
The two American college students arrested in Denmark following an alleged dispute with an Uber driver are facing yet another hurdle abroad as they try to return home to the United States. Owen Ray, a 19-year-old studying at Miami University in Ohio, and his friend have reportedly had their passports seized by Danish authorities, following their release from prison on Monday. "We remain deeply concerned that Danish authorities have confiscated his passport and will not allow him to return to the United States – something we understand is unusual in Danish court proceedings," Ray's parents, Andy Ray and Sara Buchen-Ray, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. American College Students On Spring Break Released From Jail After Alleged Dispute With Uber Driver The two friends were enjoying a spring break trip when they called an Uber on March 31, according to Ray's family. When the driver arrived, Ray realized he had entered the wrong destination address and reportedly asked to be taken to a different hotel. The driver declined to take Ray and his friend to the new location and the pair exited the vehicle while canceling the ride, triggering a cancellation fee, according to a family spokesperson. Read On The Fox News App The pair began walking toward the hotel while calling a replacement Uber. Minutes later, the original driver began following Ray and his friend, threatening to call the police and claiming he had not received payment, a family spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Iowa Student's Passport Seizure In Dominican Republic Raises Red Flags For Americans Traveling: What To Know Ray reportedly told the driver to call the authorities, insisting they had done nothing wrong and that the driver was paid. "We said, 'We've done nothing wrong. We've done nothing wrong.' He then started an altercation with us," Ray told "Good Morning America" on Monday. However, the situation reportedly escalated into a physical altercation before the pair escaped and returned to their hotel. Michigan Couple Detained In Mexico For Over A Month Over Timeshare Dispute Head Home The next morning, Ray and his friend arrived at Copenhagen Airport and were arrested by Danish authorities. The two friends were charged with simple assault and appeared in court later that day, a Copenhagen police spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. "We were both just very shocked about the fact that we were being arrested over this incident," Ray said. "We had done nothing wrong." Ray and his friend were sentenced to an initial 10-day, pre-trial detention as the investigation remained ongoing. However, their sentences were subsequently extended until April 24. Missing American In Dominican Republic: Key Witness Joshua Riibe Leaves Country On Monday, the friends were released after spending two weeks in a Danish prison, but have been ordered to check in with authorities daily after having their passports confiscated, according to Copenhagen police. "Since they are still charged in the case, it is standard procedure to confiscate the passports until the court hearing," a Copenhagen police spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Their next court hearing is set for April 24. Amanda Knox's Advice For American Linked To Punta Cana Missing Persons Case "The facts make clear that Owen is the victim in this case, and we urge Danish officials to allow him to return home to the United States without delay," Ray's parents said in a statement. The incident was reportedly captured on the Uber driver's dashcam and has been entered into evidence in the case. "The safety of everyone who uses the Uber app is a top priority, and we take reports of violence very seriously," Uber said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The driver reported to Uber that he was assaulted by two riders who were later arrested by Danish police." Americans Traveling Abroad On Spring Break Should Know 3 Crucial Things To Stay Safe: Expert Ray's Denmark-based attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "We are aware of media reports of two U.S. citizens detained in Denmark," the U.S. State Department said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Staff at our embassy in Copenhagen are providing consular assistance. The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad." Miami University in Ohio did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "I just hope that Denmark and the legal authorities here are able to – and the U.S. government can help us and do what they can to help us be released by Easter, so I can be home with my family," Ray told "Good Morning America." "I think the best case would be for the Danish police and the prosecutor to drop the case at this point, because we're completely innocent, and for them to return us our passports and allow us to head back to the United States."Original article source: US college students arrested abroad fight to get home after passports seized: 'Done nothing wrong'
Fox News
15-04-2025
- Fox News
US college students arrested abroad fight to get home after passports seized: 'Done nothing wrong'
The two American college students arrested in Denmark following an alleged dispute with an Uber driver are facing yet another hurdle abroad as they try to return home to the United States. Owen Ray, a 19-year-old studying at Miami University in Ohio, and his friend have reportedly had their passports seized by Danish authorities, following their release from prison on Monday. "We remain deeply concerned that Danish authorities have confiscated his passport and will not allow him to return to the United States – something we understand is unusual in Danish court proceedings," Ray's parents, Andy Ray and Sara Buchen-Ray, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. The two friends were enjoying a spring break trip when they called an Uber on March 31, according to Ray's family. When the driver arrived, Ray realized he had entered the wrong destination address and reportedly asked to be taken to a different hotel. The driver declined to take Ray and his friend to the new location and the pair exited the vehicle while canceling the ride, triggering a cancellation fee, according to a family spokesperson. The pair began walking toward the hotel while calling a replacement Uber. Minutes later, the original driver began following Ray and his friend, threatening to call the police and claiming he had not received payment, a family spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Ray reportedly told the driver to call the authorities, insisting they had done nothing wrong and that the driver was paid. "We said, 'We've done nothing wrong. We've done nothing wrong.' He then started an altercation with us," Ray told "Good Morning America" on Monday. However, the situation reportedly escalated into a physical altercation before the pair escaped and returned to their hotel. The next morning, Ray and his friend arrived at Copenhagen Airport and were arrested by Danish authorities. The two friends were charged with simple assault and appeared in court later that day, a Copenhagen police spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital. "We were both just very shocked about the fact that we were being arrested over this incident," Ray said. "We had done nothing wrong." Ray and his friend were sentenced to an initial 10-day, pre-trial detention as the investigation remained ongoing. However, their sentences were subsequently extended until April 24. On Monday, the friends were released after spending two weeks in a Danish prison, but have been ordered to check in with authorities daily after having their passports confiscated, according to Copenhagen police. "Since they are still charged in the case, it is standard procedure to confiscate the passports until the court hearing," a Copenhagen police spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Their next court hearing is set for April 24. "The facts make clear that Owen is the victim in this case, and we urge Danish officials to allow him to return home to the United States without delay," Ray's parents said in a statement. The incident was reportedly captured on the Uber driver's dashcam and has been entered into evidence in the case. "The safety of everyone who uses the Uber app is a top priority, and we take reports of violence very seriously," Uber said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The driver reported to Uber that he was assaulted by two riders who were later arrested by Danish police." Ray's Denmark-based attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "We are aware of media reports of two U.S. citizens detained in Denmark," the U.S. State Department said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Staff at our embassy in Copenhagen are providing consular assistance. The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad." Miami University in Ohio did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "I just hope that Denmark and the legal authorities here are able to – and the U.S. government can help us and do what they can to help us be released by Easter, so I can be home with my family," Ray told "Good Morning America." "I think the best case would be for the Danish police and the prosecutor to drop the case at this point, because we're completely innocent, and for them to return us our passports and allow us to head back to the United States."
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
American college student arrested in Denmark speaks out: 'We had done nothing wrong'
One of the Americans detained for nearly two weeks in Denmark over an alleged assault against an Uber driver while visiting Copenhagen on their college spring break said he was "shocked" that he and his friend were arrested and maintained that they are innocent. "We were both just very shocked about the fact that we were being arrested over this incident," Owen Ray told "Good Morning America" on Monday, hours after he and his friend were freed. "We had done nothing wrong," Ray added. Ray, a 19-year-old studying at Miami University in Ohio, and his unnamed friend were detained at Copenhagen Airport on April 1 over an alleged dispute with an Uber driver the night prior, Jordan Finfer, a U.S.-based attorney for Ray's family, told ABC News. Local police detained them while they were heading home after deeming them "flight risks," claiming they were planning to run from the incident, he said. MORE: 2 college students released from jail in Denmark after alleged altercation with Uber driver In an account relayed to Finfer, who then shared the details with ABC News, Ray said he and his friend realized they had entered the wrong address for their destination -- and the Uber driver allegedly refused to take them anywhere else. Ray said they decided to cancel their Uber and left the vehicle. Then, after they walked a few blocks, the Uber driver pulled up, got out of the car and "started yelling at us, thinking he hadn't been paid for the Uber, but in fact, he had been paid for the Uber," Ray said. "He then got in our faces and was saying, 'I'm gonna call 10 guys,'" Ray said. "We said, 'We've done nothing wrong. We've done nothing wrong.' He then started an altercation with us," Ray said. "The safety of everyone who uses the Uber app is a top priority, and we take reports of violence very seriously," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News on Sunday. "Any additional questions about the investigation should be directed to the Danish police," the statement added. Copenhagen police said the two students were charged with common assault. Following his arrest, Ray said he thought he would be able to explain to a judge what happened and be released. "But then we went to the judge, and we were actually told that we would be imprisoned in a Danish prison for 10 days," he said. MORE: Columbia University associate of Mahmoud Khalil arrested by DHS Ray said he wasn't able to make a phone call for 36 hours after his arrest and didn't know if his parents even knew where he was. "I was initially very worried about making sure that I could get into contact," he said. He said he was able to text his mother from a phone at court, and she ended up flying to Denmark. "I was very relieved to have heard that she was able to do that, and thankful that she was able to," Ray said. "I'm very thankful to my family and everyone else who's been supporting me throughout this situation." Ray said it also helped that he and his friend had each other while detained. "We read books, we played cards, we played chess and luckily we were able to get through it in a good mental state," he said. Their initial 10-day, pre-trial detention amid the investigation into the incident was subsequently extended until April 24, a Copenhagen police spokesperson told ABC News. Ray said his Danish attorney filed an appeal last week, and the judge ruled in their favor on Monday, releasing them. The teen said Danish authorities have their passports and they have to check in with police daily until they get an update on the case. He said he believes they are waiting for either the investigating authorities to drop the case or for a trial date to be set. Ray said he and his friend are in a good mental state, and that he plans to maintain a positive attitude about the ordeal while hoping for it to be resolved soon. "I just hope that Denmark and the legal authorities here are able to -- and the U.S. government can help us and do what they can to help us be released by Easter, so I can be home with my family," Ray said. "I think the best case would be for the Danish police and the prosecutor to drop the case at this point, because we're completely innocent, and for them to return us our passports and allow us to head back to the United States," he said. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday that they are "aware of media reports of two U.S. citizens detained in Denmark. Staff at our embassy in Copenhagen are providing consular assistance." "The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad," the statement continued. "Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment." American college student arrested in Denmark speaks out: 'We had done nothing wrong' originally appeared on
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Miami U student stuck in Denmark after being released from Danish jail over Uber dispute
A Miami University student and his friend have been released from a Danish jail but cannot return home after an Uber ride dispute, according to the student's family. The family of Owen Ray, a 20-year-old student at Miami, said he was arrested March 31 with his friend during a trip in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, after an argument turned physical with an Uber driver. Ray's family says the Uber driver threatened Owen and his friend over not paying for a canceled fare. The duo had ordered an Uber to their hotel and realized they selected the wrong hotel once they were in the car. The driver declined to take them to the right hotel and they exited the car, canceling the ride in the app but still paying a fee for the fare, the family said. The family says the driver left but returned five minutes later, threatening the students over not being paid. The driver exited his car and then assaulted Owen, causing a scuffle that Owen and his friend fled from, according to Owen's family. Uber confirmed the students paid for their fare, according to a statement to Enquirer media partner Fox19. The driver reported to Uber that he was assaulted by the two students, not the other way around. Still, the next morning, Owen and his friend were at the airport to fly back to the United States when they were arrested by Danish authorities, the family said. They were sent to Vestre Prison, a pre-trial jail in Copenhagen, where they remained in custody for two weeks before they were released Monday. Now, with their passports confiscated, it will take some more time before they're allowed to return home. "The facts make clear that Owen is the victim in this case, and we urge Danish officials to allow him to return home to the United States without delay," said Owen's parents, Andy Ray and Sara Buchen-Ray, in a statement. The U.S. State Department, through an embassy in Copenhagen, is providing consular assistance to the two students, according to a department spokesperson. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Miami student stuck in Denmark after going to jail over Uber ride
CBS News
14-04-2025
- CBS News
College student from Chicago released from Copenhagen prison after Uber fare dispute, but remains in Denmark
A Chicago-area college student has been released from a Danish prison after being arrested in Copenhagen while on spring break , according to his parents. Owen Ray and his friend are alums of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago's Near West Side neighborhood. According to Jordan Finfer, the U.S. attorney for Owen Ray, Ray and his friend were in Copenhagen to visit friends for spring break. Ray's parents said they got into an Uber, realized they had put in the wrong address, tried and failed to change their destination address, asked the driver if he could take them to the correct address and, when he said he couldn't, got out of the car a short distance away, then ordered another Uber. Ray's attorney said the Uber driver accused the boys of not paying for the ride, but receipts show they did. "The Uber driver first says, 'I'm going to call the police,' and you can hear them saying, 'We've done nothing wrong. Call the police,'" Ray's mother said. Ray and his friend have missed two weeks of college so far. Ray is a student at Miami University in Ohio. A spokesperson for Ray's family claims there was then an altercation between the boys and the driver, in which the driver physically assaulted the boys, before they ran away in fear and went back to their hotel. However, Danish lawyer Eigil Strand, who represents Ray and spoke with CBS News, said that "some physical interactions were swapped between the parties." The two boys were arrested at the Copenhagen airport when they went to return to the U.S. on previously scheduled flights. As of Monday afternoon, they had been released from custody, but a spokesperson told CBS News they had been made to forfeit their passports and remained in Denmark. "We remain deeply concerned that Danish authorities have confiscated his passport and will not allow him to return to the United States – something we understand is unusual in Danish court proceedings," Ray's parents said in a statement. "The facts make clear that Owen is the victim in this case, and we urge Danish officials to allow him to return home to the United States without delay." Earlier, Ray's mother said that, even while waiting for a trial, it's the years to come she is the most worried about for Ray. "There are going to be ramifications from this. You know, when you're locked in a jail cell for 23 hours a day, you can't come out without nothing," she said. Note: The video in the player above is from an earlier story, filed on April 12, 2025. Emmet Lyons and Marissa Sulek contributed to this report.
