American College Student Jailed in Denmark After Uber Dispute — Family Says He Was Just Trying to Go Home

A U.S. college student spent nearly two weeks behind bars in Copenhagen, Denmark, after what his family claims was an “unprovoked assault” by an Uber driver.

Owen Ray, a 19-year-old student at Miami University in Ohio, was released from Vestre prison on Monday, April 14, a family spokesperson confirms in a statement shared with PEOPLE. Ray and his friend, another U.S. citizen, were arrested at the Copenhagen airport on April 1 following a fare dispute with an Uber driver.

On March 31, Ray and his friend inadvertently entered the wrong address during an Uber ride back to their hotel in Copenhagen, according to the family spokesperson. After realizing they put in the wrong address and were unable to change it, the pair asked to be taken to their correct hotel.

“The driver declined to take them to the alternate location, so Owen and his friend exited the Uber and they canceled the ride,” the family spokesperson alleges in the statement. “As is customary, the canceled fare was paid via the app.” 

The two friends sought another Uber to take them back to their hotel. “Approximately five minutes later, the original Uber driver returned and began threatening the boys because he believed he was not paid,” the family spokesperson claims. “The boys assured him that he would be paid in the app.”

According to the family spokesperson, the Uber driver allegedly then got out of the vehicle and “continued to threaten the boys, who responded that he should call the police because they’d done nothing wrong.” 

That’s when the family spokesperson claims the driver allegedly assaulted Owen. “A scuffle ensued, culminating in the boys fleeing due to fear. This is all captured via the Uber’s dash cam video, which is now part of the legal proceedings in Denmark.”

The pair were “prepared to depart the country on their previously scheduled flights” at the time of their arrests the next day, the family spokesperson says.

In response to the allegations, an Uber spokesperson tells PEOPLE, “The safety of everyone who uses the Uber app is a top priority, and we take reports of violence very seriously. The driver reported to Uber that he was assaulted by two riders who were later arrested by Danish police. Any additional questions about the investigation should be directed to the Danish police.” 

According to ABC News, a Copenhagen police spokesperson confirmed the arrests of two U.S. citizens, who were accused of common assault. PEOPLE has reached out to Copenhagen police for additional comment on whether the two face criminal charges.

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Ray’s parents have since spoken out about their son’s release from jail and the delay in bringing him back to the U.S.

“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,” Andy Ray and Sara Buchen-Ray said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on April 14.

“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.”