Charles Ramsey speaks about domestic violence arrests

Charles Ramsey, Cleveland hero neighbor who saved three young women and a child from the “house of horrors”, has spoken out about his criminal past saying the domestic violence incidents made him the good man he is today.

Charles Ramsey, 43, who has become something of a celebrity since the rescue of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight due to his antics with the media, was picked up on domestic violence charges in 1997, 1998 and 2003.

Speaking to TMZ, Charles Ramsey said: “I’ve made amends with the people involved and we’ve all moved on and grown up.

“Those incidents helped me become the man I am today and are the reason why I try to help the community as much as I can … Including those women.

“If I had so much hatred for women, I would have minded my own business this week and walked away instead of risking my life to save someone else.”

Charles Ramsey served six months in jail after he entered a “no contest” plea in 1998 – when he was charged with domestic violence and failing to appear in court following his first arrest, according to documents revealed on Wednesday by The Smoking Gun.

After his third arrest in 2003, Charles Ramsey was sentenced to another eight months in prison.

That same year, his wife Rochelle filed for divorce.

In an interview with The Smoking Gun, Rochelle said that her ex-husband Charles Ramsey also dodged $51-per-month child support payments for the couple’s daughter.

Meanwhile, a second neighbor, Angel Cordero, claimed he was the one who rescued Amanda Berry – and Charles Ramsey did not arrive at the scene until after the woman was freed.

Speaking Spanish, Angel Cordero told NewsChannel5: “I helped her and I was first.”

Angel Cordero added that by the time Charles Ramsey arrived, Amanda was already “outside with the girl”.