School district blocks event

Leadership was not aware of man’s criminal past, warrant

A Broward high school has been the site of at least 14 professional wrestling events organized by a man with a criminal past who now has an outstanding warrant out for his arrest

Jeffrey Brazzle, 44, also known by the stage name “JB Cool,” plans to hold an event at Coral Springs High on Feb. 9, according to an ad on the Eventbrite ticket site.

The school’s assistant principal, Michael Marhefka, has appeared in some of Brazzle’s previous shows as a guest performer.

But the School District now says the latest wrestling event, called “Breaking Hearts,” is not approved.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel informed the Broward County School District this week that Brazzle is on probation for a felony grand theft charge from 2014. He was arrested again in December on a battery charge, which puts him in violation of his 15-year probation.

“The organizer has expressed interest in the Feb. 9 date, but nothing is approved or finalized until the lease agreement is approved,” district spokeswoman Cathleen Brennan said in a written statement. Asked whether the event will be allowed to happen, she said, “Fighting Evolution Wrestling has already been notified that the Feb. 9 event is not approved.”

Brennan said, “per school leadership,” that leaders at the school were not aware of Brazzle’s criminal past, which also includes a 2006 grand theft charge that resulted in a diversion program and a 2007 felony conviction for habitually driving

with a suspended license.

While background checks are done on anyone who visits the school while students are in session, district policy doesn’t require them for people who lease space during nights and weekends.

That’s something that needs to change, said School Board member Lori Alhadeff, who represents the school.

“I’m appalled and I will absolutely bring this to the attention of Superintendent [Robert] Runcie and the district attorneys,” Alhadeff said. “There should be background checks, absolutely.”

Under the company name, Fighting Evolution Wrestling, Brazzle has used the school’s gymnasium for events 14 times since Dec. 2016, according to Eventbrite. Ads for the shows feature a variety of performers, both men and women, decked out in themed costumes and striking fierce poses. Some are wearing masks or heavy stage makeup.

Past shows have included titles like “Ground Zero,” “One Bad Ass Night” and “Autumn Brawl.”

Several ads featured Marhefka, the school’s assistant principal. He has appeared in two shows as an unpaid guest performer, Brennan said.

“This involvement was outside of the scope of his employment,” she said.

The school received

$398.56 for each Saturday night wrestling event, with the most recent show being Dec. 8, Brennan said.

Marhefka couldn’t be reached for comment. Brazzle, reached on his cellphone, denied there’s a warrant out for his arrest.

“If there was an outstanding warrant, I wouldn’t be on the phone with you,” he said.

Before answering any further questions, he said, “I’m terminating this call” and hung up.

Brazzle was accused in

2014 of stealing $50,685 from a health care company where he had worked as a billing specialist. He was ordered to pay back the money and not get arrested again.

However, the state says he violated his probation by getting arrested for a misdemeanor battery charge Dec. 28. He’s accused of pushing another man in the right side of his face. The confrontation started after Brazzle accused the man, Evan Bacallao, of using a forklift to purposely drop a car on his vehicle. There’s no indication Bacallao was arrested, although Brazzle has petitioned to get a restraining order against him, and a hearing on that is scheduled for Feb. 4.