US tourists held in Danish prison over argument with Uber driver

A teenage tourist has spent two weeks in prison and is trapped in a foreign country and unable to go home, after an alleged altercation over an Uber ride.

A pair of college students from the US who were on a spring break adventure in Denmark have been arrested and thrown into prison following an alleged dispute with their Uber driver.

The tourists, who were visiting Copenhagen, have been in a Danish prison for two weeks now, according to distraught family members desperate for their return.

In an interview with CBS news, Sara Buchen-Ray — the mother of one of the students, Owen Ray — said her son and an unnamed friend had been forced to forfeit their passports and remain in the country.

Ms Ray claimed that her 19-year-old son, who is a student at the University of Miami in Ohio, and his friend were detained at a Copenhagen airport on April 1. The arrest came just one day after Mr Ray and his unnamed friend entered the wrong destination address in their Uber app, and an altercation unfolded as a result with the driver.

Owen Ray was about to leave Copenhagen when he and his travelling friend were detained.

According to representatives of the Ray family, when the Uber driver refused to take the student and his friend to the updated hotel address, the pair exited the car to order a new driver for the rest of the journey to the intended destination.

Mr Ray’s lawyer claims the pair paid for the portion the Uber driver completed via the app before they exited the vehicle.

According to CBS, the driver allegedly found them waiting for a new ride five minutes later, and approached the pair.

Mrs Ray claims the driver accused the pair of not paying for the portion of the journey he completed, however Mr Ray’s lawyer said receipts show they did and that he would be paid via the Uber app.

Erin Pelton, a PR manager representing Mr Ray’s family, told The Guardian that a “scuffle ensued, culminating in the boys fleeing due to fear”.

Owen Ray was travelling with an unnamed friend.

“This is all captured via the Uber’s dashcam video, which is now part of the legal proceedings in Denmark,” she said.

A Copenhagen police spokesperson told multiple outlets — including the New York Post — that Mr Ray and his travelling partner were charged with common assault.

“The Copenhagen Police can confirm, that on March 31, two American citizens were arrested in Copenhagen, and on March 31 they were brought before the court charged with common assault,” the statement read.

“They were sentenced to 10 days pre-trial detention. This verdict has since extended until April 24.”

However an updated statement sent to People from Mr Ray’s parents said their son had been released, however was not allowed to return to the US yet.

Mr Ray's mother has spoken out about the arrest.

Owen Ray's mother, Sara Buchen-Ray, is worried about her son.

Ray has been released from a Danish prison but authorities will not allow him to return to the US, his family said on Monday. The status of the other student is unclear.

“We are relieved that Owen has been released from a Danish prison following the unprovoked assault he and his friend suffered at the hands of an Uber driver on March 31,” the statement from Mr Ray’s parents read.

The pair took an Uber in Copenhagen.

“However, 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.

“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.”