Good Samaritan: 'Did My Duty As A Human Being'

CERES, Calif. (CBS13) -- The man credited by police for breaking up a fight between two teens that was allegedly orchestrated by one of the boys' mothers shrugged off praise for his actions and said he was simply doing what he felt was right.

Johnny Montalvo, a pastor at Modesto's Victory Outreach church, said he was driving home with two of his children when he saw a crowd of people watching two brawling teens in the front yard of a Ceres home.

Video of the fight posted online shows the teens stopping when Montalvo honked his horn, and when bystanders encouraged the boys to continue fighting, he stepped in the middle of the crowd to end the violence.

"They were young, two young men, and there was a group of people just watching," Montalvo said. "Growing up, being in situations like that, you know, I just had to do something about it."

The Ceres Police Department said 33-year-old Jennifer Zuniga brought her son and another classmate -- both age 14 -- to her front yard to slug it out after hearing of a verbal altercation between the two.

Zuniga can be heard cheering on her son and shouting obscenities as the two boys fought. When Montalvo stepped into the fight, Zuniga and other bystanders protested, saying the fight was acceptable because it was on her property.

"What kind of example are you?" Montalvo can be heard asking on the video.

"Hey, I don't care," Zuniga said.

The boys were surprised by his intervention and stopped, Montalvo said. "They didn't insist on fighting," he said.

Montalvo said all parents make mistakes, and he doesn't know why Zuniga allegedly wanted the fight to happen.

"Without any doubt, she loves her kid," he said. "She expressed frustration about her son being bullied. Was he bullied? I don't know… I can understand any parent's frustration if her child is being bullied."

Montalvo said he was surprised when he was told the Ceres City Council wanted him to attend Monday's meeting to praise him for his actions.

"I don't feel like I did anything special. As a human being, I did my duty," he said.

Jennifer Zuniga is facing charges of child endangerment and delinquency of a minor.

Full Interview With Montalvo: