Chicago, IL – April 14, 2025
Two American college students from the Chicago area are currently stuck in Denmark after being detained on charges of assault following an altercation with an Uber driver. Owen Ray, 19, a student at Miami University in Ohio, and his unnamed friend, who studies at Indiana University, were detained at Copenhagen Airport on April 1. The incident occurred during their spring break in Copenhagen on March 31.
According to Ray, the altercation started when they realized they had entered the wrong address for their Uber destination, and the driver allegedly refused to take them anywhere else. The situation escalated when both parties exited the vehicle and the driver reportedly threatened the students. Ray claims the driver physically attacked him, prompting Ray to push the driver away in self-defense.
The two students were detained the following day by Copenhagen police, who considered them “flight risks” and detained them for further investigation. Although they had pre-booked their flight, authorities kept them in custody and withheld their passports, preventing their return to the U.S.
Ray’s family has expressed concern over their detention, stating that their son and his friend were victims of an unprovoked assault. The family also criticized the Danish authorities for their decision to withhold the students’ passports and delay their departure.
As of April 13, both students were released from detention but remain stuck in Denmark as their case proceeds. The U.S. State Department has provided consular assistance, and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin’s office is in contact with the embassy to assist the families.
An Uber spokesperson emphasized that they take all reports of violence seriously but directed further questions to Danish authorities, who are handling the investigation.
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