A recent incident in Copenhagen has left a college student from Chicago unable to return to the United States following his release from Danish custody. Owen Ray, a student at Miami University in Ohio, had been arrested for a dispute arising from an Uber ride gone awry while he was on spring break with a friend.
Released from a Danish prison but with his passport seized by local authorities, Ray remains in Denmark as the situation unfolds. As reported by CBS Chicago, the dispute began when Ray and his friend, who are both alums of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, entered an Uber on March 31 but realized they had input the incorrect destination. The driver reportedly refused to alter course, prompting the young men to exit the vehicle and order another ride.
However, the interaction escalated after the Uber driver confronted the pair, alleging nonpayment, which led to what Ray's family spokesperson described as an unprovoked physical altercation. The Uber driver's dashcam captured the incident, and the footage has become a part of the legal proceedings, according to a family spokesperson's statement obtained by NBC Chicago.
Upon their attempted departure from Denmark, Ray and his friend were arrested at the Copenhagen airport. Having spent two weeks behind bars, Ray's release came as a relief to his parents, who are urging Danish officials to permit their son's return to the States. "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 physical confrontation, described by Ray's Danish lawyer Eigil Strand, included "some physical interactions were swapped between the parties," as stated by CBS Chicago.
The U.S. State Department is aware of the situation and is providing consular assistance to Ray and his friend. With the safety and security of U.S. citizens as a principal concern, the State Department has stated, "The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad." Meanwhile, Senator Dick Durbin's office has been in contact with both the family and the embassy in Denmark since becoming aware of Ray's predicament, NBC Chicago noted.
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