Florida officer faces charges over dead man’s home and identity

A Florida police officer who found a man dead during a welfare check faces felony charges after investigators said he took over the man’s home, used his identity to obtain a repair permit and spent years renovating the property.

Brian Louis Sguros, 35, of the Lauderhill Police Department, was arrested Tuesday and appeared in court Wednesday. He is charged with official misconduct, criminal use of a deceased person’s identification, criminal use of personal identification information, an offense against a computer user and unlawful use of a two-way communications device, according to NBC News.

Sguros was among the officers who responded to a welfare check at Dennis West’s home on July 11, 2022. West, 71, was found dead inside. The medical examiner determined he died of natural causes from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, NBC News reported, citing Sguros’ arrest affidavit.

According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Sguros told the medical examiner’s office that he was West’s friend, although investigators found no indication the two knew each other. He also said West had no living family, which was untrue, authorities said.

Sguros said in paperwork that he took possession of the house in August 2022, weeks after West’s death, the sheriff’s office said. From then through February 2025, he cleaned and repaired it, according to the arrest affidavit. NBC News reported that Sguros claimed to have spent at least $214,000 of his own money on the property.

The affidavit said Sguros used his work computer to search law enforcement databases for West’s driver’s license record, which disclosed his address, date of birth, Social Security number and other information. Authorities said Sguros paid the home’s taxes and utilities in West’s name and used West’s identification to obtain a city repair permit. Investigators allege he forged West’s signature on the application but listed his own telephone number.

A project manager whose company replaced exterior doors and windows in 2024 told police he did not know West was dead. He recalled Sguros saying West was “unavailable,” NBC News reported. The Guardian reported that a neighbor told WSVN TV Sguros had described West as a friend who gave him the house before dying, and said he planned to rent it out on Airbnb.

In February 2025, Sguros and his spouse filed a form with the Broward County Property Appraiser seeking to establish a claim to the home, according to the affidavit. A real estate company later bought the property from West’s heirs and gained lawful possession through probate proceedings. When an employee went to take possession, the employee encountered Sguros. He surrendered the keys but sought reimbursement for improvements, the affidavit said.

In civil filings, Sguros said he had secured and repaired the house because it was hazardous and he wanted to prevent crime and squatters. He sought more than $200,000 from the real estate company, NBC News reported. The affidavit said his filings did not establish that he acquired rights to the home through a purchase, lease, deed, probate appointment or relationship with West’s heirs.

Reports differ on Sguros’ status after Wednesday’s court hearing. NBC News reported that he was ordered held on $25,000 bond and placed on unpaid administrative leave. The Guardian reported that he was released on $25,000 bond and placed on paid administrative leave. It was unclear whether he had an attorney.