Florida cop Brian Louis Sguros found 71-year-old Dennis West dead in his home in 2022, took over the property weeks after his death and impersonated him while spending over $214,000 on renovations, police say

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. According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and court documents, 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.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.Florida police officer accused of taking over deceased man’s homeAccording to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Sguros responded to the welfare check at West’s home on July 11, 2022. The medical examiner later determined that West had died of natural causes due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the arrest affidavit.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. Authorities said there was no indication that Sguros knew West and that the claim about his family was untrue.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. According to the arrest affidavit, 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.In civil filings, Sguros maintained that he had taken over the home because it was hazardous and he wanted to prevent criminal activity and squatters from occupying it.Investigators allege officer used dead man’s personal informationThe investigation allegedly uncovered searches conducted by Sguros on law enforcement databases using his work computer. 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.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 affidavit further detailed work carried out at the home in 2024, when a contractor was hired to replace exterior doors and windows. 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”.The alleged use of the deceased man’s identity is among the central elements of the criminal investigation.Real estate company uncovers alleged property takeoverThe situation came to light after a real estate company purchased the property from West’s heirs. According to the arrest affidavit, the company obtained lawful possession of the home through probate proceedings in autumn 2025.However, when an employee attempted to take possession of the property, they encountered Sguros. He eventually surrendered the keys before the company’s attorney filed an unlawful detainer action, a legal process used to recover possession of property.Despite handing over the keys, Sguros allegedly demanded reimbursement for the repairs and improvements he claimed to have made.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.According to the arrest affidavit, 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.Sguros sought more than $200,000 in the civil litigation for the work he claimed to have carried out, the affidavit stated.In May, an attorney representing the real estate company submitted a complaint to the Lauderhill Police Department, leading to further scrutiny of the case.Brian Louis Sguros faces multiple felony chargesSguros 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.According to NBC South Florida, Sguros appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered held on a $25,000 bond. 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.