Florida Police Officer Resigns After Allegedly Taking Over Dead Man’s Home and Spending $214,000 Renovating It

A Florida police officer has resigned after being accused of using the identity of a man whose body he discovered during a welfare check to take control of the deceased man’s home. Brian Sguros, 35, left the Lauderhill Police Department on October 27, following an internal affairs investigation. He is also facing multiple criminal charges over allegations that he used the victim’s personal information to maintain control of the property for years.

The case began in 2022, when Sguros reportedly discovered the body of Dennis West, a 71-year-old man, while responding to a welfare check at West’s home. According to investigators, Sguros later told the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office that he was West’s friend and claimed the older man had no living relatives. Detectives now allege that this was part of a scheme to take control of the property.

Investigators say Sguros subsequently used West’s identity to pay property taxes and utility bills, making it appear that the deceased man was still handling his own affairs. He is also accused of forging West’s signature on a building permit application and using a notary’s name and seal without authorization. Authorities further allege that he accessed law enforcement databases to obtain personal information about West, including details that could be used to impersonate him.

According to the arrest affidavit, Sguros cleaned and renovated the property, claiming to have invested more than $214,000 of his own money. He reportedly filed paperwork in February 2025 asserting that he had possessed the home since August 2022, just weeks after West’s death. Investigators are examining how he allegedly maintained control of the property and used official systems during that period.

The alleged scheme came to light after West’s heirs sold the property to a real estate company. When a representative of the company attempted to take possession of the home, he encountered Sguros. The former officer eventually surrendered the keys but allegedly demanded reimbursement for the renovations. He later filed a complaint seeking more than $200,000 for the work he said he had completed.

The property dispute prompted a complaint to the Lauderhill Police Department in May 2026, leading to a criminal investigation. Sguros was arrested on October 20 and faces charges including official misconduct, criminal use of a deceased person’s identification, criminal use of personal identification information, computer-related offenses and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. He was previously reported to have posted a $25,000 bond.

Lauderhill Police Chief Constance Stanley said the department would not tolerate conduct that betrays the public’s trust. Sguros resigned following the department’s internal investigation, but his resignation does not resolve the criminal case. The allegations have yet to be proven in court, and authorities continue to pursue the matter.

Source: PEOPLE