Nurse Wanting Help For Marine Says Filner Made Unwanted Sexual Advances

By Susan Murphy and Claire Trageser, KPBS 

Another woman, a nurse named Michelle Tyler, says Mayor Bob Filner made unwanted sexual advances toward her while she was trying to get help for a U.S. Marine.

The Marine, named Katherine Ragazzino, and attorney Gloria Allred, appeared with Tyler during a press conference Tuesday. They detailed a June meeting between Tyler and the mayor.

Allred said she has not yet filed a lawsuit on behalf of Tyler, but they will file a complaint with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office Tuesday afternoon and is asking the San Diego City Attorney to investigate the incident. 

Allred is also representing Irene McCormack Jackson, who filed a suit last month against the mayor and the city of San Diego, citing specific examples of lewd behavior by the mayor.

All of the accusations, statements and apologies from the key players in the developing story about allegations of sexual harassment in Mayor Bob Filner's office and calls from former mayoral supporters for his resignation.

Since then, at least nine other women have come forward with similar allegations.

Tyler said she met with Filner and Ragazzino in the mayor's office in June to ask for him to get Ragazzino help. Ragazzino said she was homeless because of posttraumatic stress disorder and injuries she sustained while in Iraq.

After agreeing to help Ragazzino, Filner asked to speak to Tyler alone.

"I thought the mayor wanted to ask me questions about Katherine's injuries and level of care," Tyler said. "Instead, I was stunned to find he suddenly changed the conversation from professional to personal."

Allred said the mayor made advances on Tyler, rubbed her arm, told her to relax and asked for her number. She said Filner told Tyler that if they weren't in his office, he would like to kiss her.

Tyler told him to stop and said she had to leave, Allred said. As Tyler left the office, the mayor told her, "I'm going to call you."

Allred said the mayor made it clear his help for Ragazzino was conditional upon Tyler going to dinner with him and spending time with him.

Attorney Gloria Allred holds up the warning sign she proposes the city of San Diego hang outside the mayor's office.

Allred said Filner's behavior was an abuse of his power, and suggested the city post a sign outside the mayor's office warning that he is a danger to women.

"Many people ask for help from their elected officials," Allred said. "To use his power as the mayor of San Diego to satisfy his sexual needs is clearly improper and should not be tolerated."

Ragazzino teared up as she described her experience with Filner and Tyler. She said she owes everything to Tyler for getting her help.

"I don't appreciate being used as a bargaining chip to fulfill his sexual desires," Ragazzino said of Filner.

Filner is scheduled to be deposed in the McCormack case on Friday, a date that conflicts with the mayor's reported behavioral therapy. Allred said she does not know where the mayor is receiving his therapy, but expects the deposition to continue as scheduled.

She added that she has also been contacted by more women.