Daijiworld Media Network - Florida
Florida, Oct 22: A Florida police officer has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly taking over the home of a deceased man, using his identity and spending years renovating the property without lawful ownership, according to investigators and police documents.
Brian Louis Sguros, 35, an officer with the Lauderhill Police Department, was arrested on Tuesday following a joint investigation by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office. He faces charges including official misconduct, criminal use of a deceased person’s identification, criminal use of personal identification information, an offence against a computer user and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
The case dates back to July 11, 2022, when Sguros responded to a welfare check at the home of Dennis West, 71, and found him dead inside. The medical examiner determined that West died of natural causes due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the arrest affidavit.
Investigators said Sguros presented himself to the medical examiner’s office as West’s friend and claimed that the deceased had no living family members, although authorities said this was untrue and found no indication that the two men knew each other.
According to the sheriff’s office, Sguros stated in paperwork that he took possession of the property in August 2022, weeks after West’s death. He allegedly cleaned and repaired the home between August 2022 and February 2025, claiming to have spent at least USD 214,000 of his own money on the work. He also paid property taxes and utility bills in West’s name.
The investigation found that Sguros had used his work computer to search law enforcement databases for West’s driver’s licence records, obtaining personal information including his address, date of birth and Social Security number.
Authorities allege that Sguros used West’s identity to obtain a permit from the city of Lauderhill for repairs to the property and forged West’s signature on the application. The telephone number listed on the application reportedly belonged to Sguros.
A project manager involved in replacing the home’s exterior doors and windows in 2024 told police that he was unaware West had died. The manager recalled Sguros saying that West was “unavailable”.
In February 2025, Sguros and his spouse reportedly filed paperwork with the Broward County Property Appraiser seeking to establish a claim to the property.
The alleged takeover came to light after a real estate company purchased the home from West’s heirs. The company obtained lawful possession through probate proceedings in the fall of 2025. When an employee later attempted to take possession of the property, the employee encountered Sguros, according to the affidavit.
Sguros eventually surrendered the keys but allegedly demanded reimbursement for the repairs and improvements he claimed to have made. In civil proceedings, he sought more than USD 200,000 for the work.
In February, Sguros filed a complaint against the real estate company, detailing how he had begun cleaning, securing and investing in the property after discovering West’s body while on duty. However, investigators said he had not established any legal basis for taking possession through a purchase, lease, deed, probate appointment or relationship with West’s heirs.
An attorney representing the real estate company submitted a complaint to the Lauderhill Police Department in May.
Sguros appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered held on a USD 25,000 bond, according to NBC South Florida. Following his arrest, he was placed on administrative leave without pay. It was not immediately clear whether he had retained an attorney.