BILLINGS, Mont. — Chinese authorities have dropped charges against an American college student who was arrested and detained in the Asian nation a week ago after reportedly injuring a taxi driver who was roughing up his mother in a fare dispute, a U.S. lawmaker said Sunday.

Guthrie McLean, a University of Montana senior, was released from a detention center in the central China city of Zhengzhou early Monday local time, according to Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana.

Guthrie McLean, a Montana college student, has been released after being arrested a week ago in China after he allegedly injured a taxi driver. Photo courtesy of Jennifer McLean via AP

Jennifer McLean confirmed her 25-year-old son’s release in an email to The Associated Press. She provided no further information.

She has been teaching in Zhengzhou, where her son, a U.S. citizen, was visiting her this summer.

His release followed days of negotiations between U.S. officials and Chinese authorities. Details on the deal that led to Guthrie McLean’s release were not immediately disclosed.

Daines and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, had argued McLean’s detention was unjustified because he was defending his mother, who is deaf, when he reportedly pushed the taxi driver to the ground during a June 10 altercation in Zhengzhou.

The college student majoring in East Asian studies was detained five weeks later, on July 16, on charges of intentional injury.

Jennifer McLean alleged that police demanded the equivalent of $7,400 in compensation from the family and threatened to imprison her son for up to three years if they refused to pay.

Daines said the family did not pay that amount, but he declined to comment further.

Local police in China have declined to comment on the case.

Guthrie McLean largely grew up in China after living in Missoula as a young child while his mother was studying at the university, according to a University of Montana official.

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