Florida police officer Brian Louis Sguros is accused of taking over a dead man’s home and impersonating him, police say. (Photo: Broward Sheriff’s Office/Google Maps)
Florida police officer accused of taking over deceased man’s home
A Florida police officer has been arrested after investigators accused him of unlawfully taking over the home of a man who died in 2022, spending more than $214,000 renovating the property and using the deceased man’s personal information to obtain permits. Brian Louis Sguros, 35, an officer with the Lauderhill Police Department, was arrested on Tuesday on multiple felony charges following an investigation into his alleged takeover of Dennis West’s home in Florida. Sguros was among the officers who responded to a welfare check at West’s residence on July 11, 2022, when the 71-year-old was found dead inside, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and court documents. Sguros responded to the welfare check at West’s home on July 11, 2022, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Paperwork filed by Sguros reportedly indicated that he took possession of the property in August 2022, just weeks after West’s death. From August 2022 until February 2025, he allegedly cleaned, repaired and renovated the home. Sguros claimed to have spent at least $214,000 of his own money on the property while also paying taxes and utility bills in West’s name, according to the arrest affidavit. Sguros appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond, according to NBC South Florida.
The medical examiner later determined that West had died of natural causes due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the arrest affidavit. Because it was hazardous and he wanted to prevent criminal activity and squatters from occupying it, in civil filings, Sguros maintained that he had taken over the home.
Authorities said there was no indication that Sguros knew West and that the claim about his family was untrue. Investigators allege that Sguros presented himself to the medical examiner’s office as West’s friend and claimed that the deceased man had no living relatives. In May, an attorney representing the real estate company submitted a complaint to the Lauderhill Police Department, leading to further scrutiny of the case. Following his arrest, he was placed on administrative leave without pay by the Lauderhill Police Department. It was not immediately clear whether Sguros had retained an attorney who could comment on the allegations. The charges stem from investigators’ allegations concerning the property and the use of West’s personal information. The accusations have not, by themselves, established guilt in court. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Sguros was arrested on Tuesday and 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.
Investigators allege officer used dead man’s personal information
The affidavit further detailed work carried out at the home in 2024, when a contractor was hired to replace exterior doors and windows. The company obtained lawful possession of the home through probate proceedings in autumn 2025, according to the arrest affidavit. The searches accessed West’s driver’s licence record and revealed personal information, including his address, date of birth and Social Security number, according to the arrest affidavit.
A project manager told police that he did not know West was dead at the time and recalled Sguros telling him that West was “unavailable”. In February, he filed a complaint against the real estate company, detailing how he said he had discovered West inside the home while on duty and subsequently began cleaning, securing and investing in the property. The investigation allegedly uncovered searches conducted by Sguros on law enforcement databases using his work computer. Authorities allege that Sguros subsequently used West’s identity to obtain a permit from the city of Lauderhill to carry out repairs at the property. Investigators also accused him of forging West’s signature on the permit application, which reportedly listed Sguros’ own telephone number. The alleged use of the deceased man’s identity is among the central elements of the criminal investigation. The situation came to light after a real estate company purchased the property from West’s heirs. However, when an employee attempted to take possession of the property, they encountered Sguros. Despite handing over the keys, Sguros allegedly demanded reimbursement for the repairs and improvements he claimed to have made.
He eventually surrendered the keys before the company’s attorney filed an unlawful detainer action, a legal process used to recover possession of property.
Sguros sought more than $200,000 in the civil litigation for the work he claimed to have carried out, the affidavit stated.
However, his records did not establish that he had acquired the home through a purchase, lease, deed, probate appointment or any relationship with West’s heirs, according to the arrest affidavit.
The case came to light after a real estate company purchased the property from West’s heirs and subsequently encountered Sguros, who allegedly sought reimbursement for repairs and improvements he claimed to have made.