Morancy praised the police officers who let him go and told TV station Pix11 he wanted to thank a black sergeant on the scene.
He said: “I forget his name, but I want to say thank you.
“He said ‘you’re a hero’ and shook my hand and said ‘I was you 20 years ago’, and that touched me.”
Mr. Morancy added: “I had to do what I had to do for the girl.
“And I urge other men to step in to intervene when someone’s being sexually assaulted. It’s disgusting.”
Levano was charged with forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, all misdemeanors.