Denver County JailAron Ralston, the hiker who amputated his own forearm as a means of survival back in 2003 and inspired the 2010 film 127 Hours, was arrested Saturday, Dec. 7, on suspicion of domestic violence. However, on Monday, Dec. 9, charges against Ralston were dismissed, the Denver Post confirmed.
Ralston and girlfriend Vita Shannon both initially faced one count of assault and one count of wrongs to minors, Denver Police records obtained by E! News confirm. (Per 9News, NBC's Denver affiliate, court documents show that Ralston and Shannon's 8-week-old daughter was nearby when the alleged altercation, but there were no indications the infant was hurt.)
While Ralston's case was dismissed in court Monday, Shannon pleaded not guilty to the original charges and an additional charge of disturbing the peace added Monday. Both parties will remain in custody until paperwork is processed, and Shannon is due back in court Friday.
"It is my understanding that the city attorney decided there was not a case," said Larry Ralston, Aron's father. "There apparently was some type of heated argument, police got involved, charges and counter charges were filed. This is just two people trying to work out a difficult relationship."
Aron Ralston's father said, however, that there is "overall, a positive relationship between the two [his son and Shannon]."
Back in 2004, Ralston wrote a memoir, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, recounting the extreme measures he took to survive when trapped by a boulder in a canyon. The Oscar-nominated film 127 Hours was based on this book, and Ralston's character was portrayed by actor James Franco.