Florida Police Officer Accused of Taking Over Dead Man’s Home After Welfare Check

A Florida police officer who discovered a man dead during a welfare check is now facing felony charges after investigators accused him of taking control of the deceased man’s home and using his identity for years.

Brian Louis Sguros, 35, an officer with the Lauderhill Police Department, responded to a welfare check at the home of 71-year-old Dennis West on July 11, 2022. West was found dead inside, and the medical examiner determined that he had died of natural causes.

According to investigators, Sguros became involved in the property’s affairs shortly after the discovery. Authorities allege that he falsely told the medical examiner’s office he was West’s friend and that the deceased man had no living relatives.

Investigators say Sguros then used West’s personal information to pay property taxes and utility bills, obtain repair permits and make improvements to the house. He allegedly forged West’s signature on paperwork and accessed law enforcement databases to obtain additional personal information about him.

Sguros has maintained that he took possession of the property to prevent squatters from moving in and to restore what he described as a dangerous, deteriorating home. In court filings, he said he spent more than $200,000 of his own money on repairs over approximately two and a half years.

The dispute came to light after West’s relatives sold the property to a real estate company in 2025. Sguros later sought reimbursement for his renovation expenses through a civil lawsuit.

He was arrested on October 20, 2026, and charged with five felonies, including official misconduct, criminal use of a deceased person’s identification and criminal use of personal identification information. He has been suspended from duty, according to reports.

The case remains under investigation, and the criminal allegations have not been proven in court. Questions about the property and Sguros’ claimed renovation expenses may also be addressed through separate civil proceedings.

Source:  DAILYMAIL