Among the Americans apprehended for virtually 2 weeks in Denmark over a supposed attack versus an Uber vehicle driver while checking out Copenhagen on their university springtime break stated he was “stunned” that he and his buddy were detained and preserved that they are innocent.
” We were both simply extremely stunned concerning the truth that we were being detained over this occurrence,” Owen Ray informed “Greetings America” on Monday, hours after he and his buddy were released. “We had actually not done anything incorrect,” Ray included.
Ray, a 19-year-old examining at Miami College in Ohio, and his unrevealed buddy were apprehended at Copenhagen Airport terminal on April 1 over a supposed disagreement with an Uber vehicle driver the evening prior, Jordan Finfer, a U.S.-based lawyer for Ray’s household, informed ABC Information. Neighborhood cops apprehended them while they were heading home after considering them “trip threats,” declaring they were intending to range from the occurrence, he stated.
In an account passed on to Finfer, that after that shared the information with ABC Information, Ray stated he and his buddy understood they had actually gotten in the incorrect address for their location– and the Uber vehicle driver presumably declined to take them anywhere else.
Ray stated they determined to terminate their Uber and left the automobile. After that, after they strolled a couple of blocks, the Uber vehicle driver brought up, left the automobile and “began chewing out us, assuming he had not been spent for the Uber, yet as a matter of fact, he had actually been spent for the Uber,” Ray stated.
” He after that entered our faces and was stating, ‘I’m gon na call 10 men,'” Ray stated.
” We stated, ‘We have actually not done anything incorrect. We have actually not done anything incorrect.’ He after that began a run-in with us,” Ray stated.
Owen Ray talks with “Greetings America” from Denmark, April 14, 2025.
ABC Information
” The safety and security of every person that makes use of the Uber application is a leading concern, and we take records of physical violence extremely seriously,” an Uber representative stated in a declaration to ABC Information on Sunday. “Any type of extra inquiries concerning the examination ought to be routed to the Danish cops,” the declaration included.
Copenhagen cops stated both trainees were billed with usual attack.
Following his apprehension, Ray stated he believed he would certainly have the ability to discuss to a court what took place and be launched.
” However after that we mosted likely to the court, and we were in fact informed that we would certainly be locked up in a Danish jail for 10 days,” he stated.
Ray stated he had not been able to make a telephone call for 36 hours after his apprehension and really did not understand if his moms and dads also understood where he was.
” I was originally extremely concerned concerning ensuring that I might enter get in touch with,” he stated.
He stated he had the ability to message his mommy from a phone at court, and she wound up flying to Denmark.
” I was extremely happy to have actually listened to that she had the ability to do that, and appreciative that she had the ability to,” Ray stated. “I’m extremely appreciative to my household and every person else that’s been sustaining me throughout this scenario.”
Ray stated it likewise aided that he and his buddy had each various other while apprehended.
” We review publications, we played cards, we played chess and fortunately we had the ability to make it through it in a great mindset,” he stated.
Owen Ray took a trip to Denmark for springtime break in March 2025.
Ray Family Members
Their preliminary 10-day, pre-trial apprehension amidst the examination right into the occurrence was ultimately prolonged till April 24, a Copenhagen cops representative informed ABC Information.
Ray stated his Danish lawyer submitted an allure recently, and the court regulationed in their support on Monday, launching them.
The teenager stated Danish authorities have their tickets and they need to sign in with cops daily till they obtain an upgrade on the instance. He stated he thinks they are waiting on either the checking out authorities to go down the instance or for a test day to be established.
Ray stated he and his buddy remain in a great mindset, which he intends to preserve a favorable mindset concerning the challenge while wishing for it to be dealt with quickly.
” I simply wish that Denmark and the lawful authorities right here have the ability to– and the united state federal government can aid us and do what they can to aid us be launched by Easter, so I can be home with my household,” Ray stated.
” I assume the most effective instance would certainly be for the Danish cops and the district attorney to go down the instance at this moment, since we’re entirely innocent, and for them to return us our tickets and enable us to head back to the USA,” he stated.
A united state State Division representative stated in a declaration on Sunday that they are “familiar with media records of 2 united state residents apprehended in Denmark. Personnel at our consular office in Copenhagen are offering consular help.”
” The Division has no greater concern than the safety and security and safety and security of united state residents abroad,” the declaration proceeded. “Because of personal privacy factors to consider, we have no more remark.”
