US college students jailed in Denmark after argument with Uber driver over wrong address: family

Two American assemblage students connected a outpouring break travel person been held successful a Danish situation for 2 weeks aft an statement pinch an Uber driver complete a incorrect address, according to family members.

Owen Ray, 20, a student astatine nan University of Miami successful Ohio, and his unnamed friend were detained astatine a Copenhagen airdrome connected April 1, a time aft entering nan incorrect destination reside during an Uber thrust led to a conflict pinch their driver, Ray’s mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, told CBS News.

After realizing they put successful nan incorrect address, Buchen-Ray said nan 2 students asked to get retired and bid a caller ride. 

“Approximately 5 minutes later, nan Uber driver circled backmost astir and recovered them stepping and started yelling astatine them,” she told nan outlet.

The Uber driver past accused Ray and his friend, who are from nan Chicago area, of not paying for nan ride, though receipts show they did, nan mom said.

The family’s attorney, Jordan Finfer, told ABC News that nan driver kicked Ray successful nan groin. In response, nan student pushed nan driver away, causing him to fall. Ray and his pal past ran away, nan lawyer said.

Buchen-Ray was conscionable 4 hours from picking up her boy from nan outpouring break travel astatine O’Hare International Airport erstwhile she received a matter that her boy had been detained.

“Approximately 6 a.m. successful nan morning, I sewage a matter from a overseas number saying, ‘Mom, I’m successful situation successful Copenhagen,'” she told CBS.

The apprehension took spot while nan students were successful nan airport, Finfer told nan outlet.

Owen has still not been charged, but was detained owed to being deemed a “flight risk,” Finfer said.

The position of his unnamed friend is not known.

“While they were waiting astatine nan gates to committee their planes to spell home, they were arrested by nan Danish police,” Finfer said.

“Owen is still detained, is apt to beryllium detained done nan extremity of nan period – he’s ne'er been charged,” Finfer said.

Buchen-Ray, who plans to recreation to Copenhagen, said her boy is locked up for 23 hours a time and she only gets to speak to him erstwhile a week.

She said she worries astir really his clip successful jailhouse will impact him down nan road.

“There are going to beryllium ramifications from this. You know, erstwhile you’re locked successful a jailhouse compartment for 23 hours a day, you can’t travel retired without nothing,” Buchen-Ray said.

Owen and his friend person missed 2 weeks of schoolhouse truthful far.

Buchen-Ray and Finfer are waiting for nan lawsuit to spell to trial, which should hap sometime this month. However, a 5-day tribunal vacation for Easter whitethorn push backmost nan proceedings, nan outlet said.

Illinois US Senator Dick Durbin’s agency released a connection to ABC, saying they have “been successful regular interaction pinch nan family and our embassy successful Denmark since being made alert of situation.”