Angel Cordero: Unsung Hero In Freeing Abducted Women In Cleveland (VIDEO)

Unsung Latino Hero Helped Free Abducted Women
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While Charles Ramsey has become an Internet phenomenon for his role in saving the three women abducted and allegedly raped for years in a Cleveland home, another hero’s efforts have passed by relatively unnoticed, ABC News Channel 5 reports.

Angel Cordero, who speaks only Spanish, told the ABC affiliate that he arrived at the scene first and he was the one to kick the door down, freeing Amanda Berry, who had been trapped inside for nearly 10 years.

“I helped her,” Cordero says in the newscast that aired Tuesday. “I was first.”

Cordero often visits the house across the street to have dinner, according to a report form CNN.

Reporter Stephanie Ramirez said Cleveland police brought Cordero to her for an interview, saying he had played a role in the rescue. She pointed out that Ramsey acknowledges that he was not alone, saying in now famous interviews things like “we can’t get in that way.”

With a mild-mannered demeanor and unable to speak English, it’s not surprising that the more flamboyant Ramsey got the lion’s share of the media attention. CNN's Maria Santana said Cordero was reluctant to give an interview.

But Cordero isn’t jealous, according to the News Channel 5 report.

“I did what had to be done,” Cordero said. "Imagine how her family feels today. They have their daughter safe."

Suspect Ariel Castro was charged Wednesday with kidnapping and raping Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. Berry was abducted the day before her 17th birthday in 2003, according to Reuters. DeJesus was kidnapped in 2004 at age 14 and Knight in 2002 at age 20.

Check out the video of Cordero’s interview above.

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Before You Go

19 Breakthrough Latinos In 2012
Marco Rubio(01 of19)
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The Cuban-American conservative with Tea Party backing rose to prominence during the presidential campaign as the GOP's point man to build bridges with the Latino community. Many wonder whether Rubio has presidential ambitions for 2016. (credit:AP)
Michele Teló(02 of19)
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Nossa! Nossa!Assim você me mataAi, se eu te pego,Ai, ai, se eu te pegoThe Brazilian sensation had the entire world on its feet doing hump movements to lyrics not many understood. Anyone who thought they couldn’t speak Portuguese was proved wrong as they sang the catchy summer anthem that took the entire World by storm. So what was all the fuss about in Teló’s song? In a nutshell: He was dancing when the hottest girl in the club past by and well....in his own words “Ah when I get my hands on you.” Michel Telo poses backstage at the 13th Annual Latin Grammy Awards at Mandalay Bay on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Brenton Ho/Powers Imagery/Invision/AP) (credit:AP)
Eva Longoria(03 of19)
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More than just a pretty face, Eva Longoria emerged as one of the most influential Latino political power brokers, acting as a high-profile ally of the Obama campaign. (credit:AP)
Marlen Esparza(04 of19)
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The Mexican-American had been throwing punches for years back home in Texas before she rose to fame as the face of Hispanic-American athletes during the London Summer Olympics. As a Cover Girl and a spokeswoman for Coca-Cola, Esparza will forever be remembered for becoming the first woman (and Hispanic) to qualify for the Olympics in Women’s Boxing, the 2012 London Olympics being the first time women’s boxing became an event. Another first came weeks later when Esparza became the first woman boxer to win an Olympic match, securing with that win a bronze medal and a place in history. Bronze medalist Marlen Esparza of the United States, participate in the medals ceremony for women's final flyweight 51-kg gold medal boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) (credit:AP)
Shakira's Baby (Bump)(05 of19)
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Shakira may have been successfully shaking her non-lying hips for years now, but nothing brought the Colombian star more joy than news she was expecting her first child with boyfriend and FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué. The radiant mother has tweeted adorable pictures of her baby bump and is constantly shown with a glowing smile as she awaits her baby boy, expected to arrive in mid-January.While Shak’s son will surely be a hit in 2013, the singer’s baby bump truly took the Internet by storm as fans eagerly shared in her excitement to welcome motherhood. (credit:Shakira/Instagram)
Julian Castro(06 of19)
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The Mexican-American Mayor of San Antonio catapulted to political stardom when he was tapped to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bae8543e4b006f4f1970a88" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10246637@N04/8199859431" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Foreign and Commonwealth Office" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bae8543e4b006f4f1970a88" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10246637@N04/8199859431" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Foreign and Commonwealth Office</a>)
Danell Leyva(07 of19)
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Whether underneath his lucky towel or demonstrating great skill on the high bar, Cuban-American Danell Leyva became a star both at the London Olympics and in his native Miami this year. The chubby asthmatic boy with the gymnast mother and stepfather wasn’t always expected to be the Olympic champion he is today. Despite having some trouble on the pommel horse during competition, Leyva wowed the judges with an astonishing high bar routine that won him the Bronze in the Men’s All-Around competition. MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 10: Olympic gold medalist Danell Leyva attends Destination Fashion 2012 To Benefit The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis, the fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, on November 10, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund) (credit:Getty Images)
Juan Manuel Santos(08 of19)
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Colombia's president gained international prominence when he opened preliminary peace talks with the FARC, the country's half-century-old insurgency. It remains to be seen whether Santos can succeed where his predecessors have failed. (credit:AP)
Ryan Lochte(09 of19)
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Talk about making a splash. The Cuban-American swimmer dove into stardom after taking home 5 medals (two gold, two silver, one bronze) at the 2012 London Olympics, bringing him to a grand total of 11 Olympic medals. This feat is only second best to fellow competitor Michael Phelps and indicates Lochte’s rise within the sport. If his skill in the water isn’t enough, the 28 year-old swim star also made headlines when he decided to do a cameo on Gossip Girl. PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Olympian Ryan Lochte onstage at the 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on September 16, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NCLR) (credit:Getty Images)
Gina Rodriguez(10 of19)
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From Salsa to the Silver Screen, this Puerto Rican actress made a name for herself by taking on the role of Maria Jose 'Majo' Tonorio, a street poet turned rapper in the movie “Filly Brown.” The film, now an official 2012 Sundance Film Festival Selection, has been critically acclaimed and Rodriguez’s performance may be up for an Academy Award. PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Actress Gina Rodriguez poses for a portrait during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival at the Getty Images Portrait Studio at T-Mobile Village at the Lift on January 21, 2012 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Enrique Peña Nieto(11 of19)
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Mexico's new president inherits perhaps the greatest human rights crisis in the hemisphere. Some 60,000 Mexicans have died since outgoing President Felipe Calderón launched a frontal assault on the country's drug cartels. (credit:Getty Images)
Jessica Sanchez(12 of19)
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The 17 year-old star with the killer pipes first wowed audiences across the nation with her performances on season 11 of American Idol. In the finale Sanchez was chosen as the runner-up, but that didn’t stop her from not only getting invited to sing at the 2012 Democratic Convention in Charlotte but also land a recurring role in Fox’s hit musical dramedy “Glee.” CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 05: Singer Jessica Sanchez performs during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC that will run through September 7, will nominate U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Lionel Messi(13 of19)
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As the year comes to a close, Lionel Messi has plenty to celebrate. Not only is he up for his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or but earlier this month he managed to break the 40 year-old record for most goals in a year, previously held by German Gerd Muller. Closing out the year with 91 goals (Gerd’s goal was 85) the Argentine forward for the club team FC Barcelona is quickly becoming one of the greatest soccer player’s to have ever graced a field. This combo of two file photographs shows at top; FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, from Argentina, scoring his second goal against Zaragoza during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, in a Nov. 17, 2012 file photo, and at bottom; a June 18, 1972 file photo of Gerd Mueller, left, of West Germany, scoring a goal against the Soviet Union in the Heysel Stadium, in Brussels. Messi scored his 85th goal during the Spanish league game with Betis on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, matching the current record of most goals scored within one calendar year, previously held by former German striker Gerd Mueller. (AP Photos, Files) (credit:AP)
Miguel(14 of19)
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With his hit single “Adorn” from the critically acclaimed album, Kaleidoscope Dream, the half Mexican singer-songwriter garnered five Grammy nominations, including “Song of the Year” and has made his mark in the industry. In this Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 file photo, Miguel arrives at the Soul Train Awards at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Miguel is up for five Grammy Awards, including song of the year for his crossover hit, Adorn. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Invision/AP, File) (credit:AP)
Jesse & Joy(15 of19)
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This Mexican duo proved to be the big winners at the Latin GRAMMYs, taking 4 golden statuettes including one for their hit Corre!. The brother and sister musical sensation won over audiences with their pop album "Con Quien Se Queda El Perro", for which they also won Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album.LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Musicians Jesse Huerta and Joy Huerta of Jesse y Joy pose with the awards for Record of the Year, Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album and Best Short Form Music Video in the press room during the 13th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on November 15, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Latin Recording Academy) (credit:Getty Images)
DREAMers(16 of19)
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The DREAMers won their biggest victory this year when President Obama directed Homeland Security in June to defer deportation for most people brought here illegally as children. (credit:AP)
Antonio Villaraigosa(17 of19)
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The Los Angeles Mayor was catapulted to the national stage when he presided over the Democratic National Convention. (credit:AP)
Latino Voter(18 of19)
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Growing from 6 percent of the electorate in 2000 to 10 percent in 2012, the Latino vote crossed a historic threshold this year. The rise of importance of the Hispanic vote promises to raise the political cost of obstructing progress toward immigration reform for both parties. (credit:Getty Images)
Carlos Gutierrez(19 of19)
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After working with Mitt Romney on Hispanic outreach, businessman Carlos Gutierrez criticized the GOP candidate for saying he lost the election because President Obama offered Latinos "gifts."Gutierrez is forming a conservative Super PAC to push for immigration reform. (credit:AP)