2 US Students Held in Denmark Following Alleged Altercation With Uber Driver

Two American college students were arrested in Denmark after an alleged altercation with an Uber driver.

Key Takeaways

Owen Ray and a friend were detained in Denmark over a dispute with an Uber driver that allegedly turned physical.
Legal proceedings include charges of common assault, and the students remain in Denmark pending trial.
The US State Department is providing consular assistance amid ongoing proceedings.

The Incident in Copenhagen

Two American college students from Chicago face legal trouble in Denmark after an incident involving an Uber ride went awry. Owen Ray, a 20-year-old student, alongside an unnamed friend, reportedly found themselves embroiled in a physical altercation with their Uber driver. According to Ray’s account, he and his friend were in the Uber when they realized they had the wrong address for their destination. He says they decided to cancel the Uber, but once they were a few blocks away, the driver returned and claimed they hadn’t paid for their ride. This allegedly resulted in an altercation in which the driver got out of the car and started yelling at the boys. Ray alleges the driver threatened him and his friend and assaulted him, while the driver alleges that he was the one attacked. Erin Pelton, a PR manager representing Ray’s family, says the altercation was captured on the Uber’s dashcam video.

Arrested at the Copenhagen airport while attempting to return home, the students face charges of common assault. Family communications reveal a text from Ray to his mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, alerting her to his detention. “Approximately 6 a.m. in the morning, I got a text from a foreign number saying, ‘Mom, I’m in prison in Copenhagen,'” she recalled.

Owen Ray, one of the two U.S. college students detained in Denmark after an alleged altercation with an Uber driver, speaks out after being released from jail: "We were both just very shocked about the fact that we were being arrested over this incident." https://t.co/jIabxN83dv pic.twitter.com/sBGFNVg2Iz

— ABC News (@ABC) April 15, 2025

Detention and Legal Proceedings

The Americans were sentenced to 10 days pre-trial detention, but then had that extended until April 24. Ray and his friend have since been released from incarceration but have to remain in Denmark pending proceedings.

Ray expressed hope to return to the US by Easter amid family claims of his victimization in the incident. Meanwhile, the US State Department confirms offering consular assistance, stressing the importance of citizen safety abroad. It stated, “The Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens abroad.” Legal delays could stem from court holidays, potentially postponing proceedings.

Political and Social Context

The arrest and subsequent legal requirements occur amid broader political tensions between Denmark and the US concerning Greenland. This political backdrop further fuels complexities in securing a swift resolution to the legal matter. Owen Ray’s family continues to lobby Danish authorities, urging for his repatriation to America based on their assertion of his innocence.