Lauderhill Police Officer Arrested for Allegedly Taking Over Dead Man’s Home, Using His Identity and Living There for Years

A South Florida police officer is accused of exploiting a welfare check involving a deceased elderly man to take control of his home, use his identity to obtain renovation permits and live in the property for years before the rightful owners discovered the alleged scheme.

LAUDERHILL, Fla. — A Lauderhill police officer has been arrested following an investigation into allegations that he used his position in law enforcement to take over the home of a deceased 71 year old man, move into the property with his partner and carry out extensive renovations using the dead homeowner’s identity.

Brian Louis Sguros, 35, was arrested on October 20, 2026, following a joint investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office Crimes Against Property Unit. Authorities allege that Sguros exploited information obtained during a 2022 welfare check involving Dennis West, whose body was discovered inside his Lauderhill residence, and subsequently occupied the property without legal ownership.

According to investigators, the officer maintained control of the residence for approximately three years, paying property taxes, covering utility expenses and making substantial improvements while allegedly using West’s personal identification information to obtain government approvals. The arrangement was eventually exposed after West’s surviving relatives sold the home and representatives of the purchasing company discovered Sguros living inside.

Welfare Check Leads to Discovery of Deceased Homeowner

The investigation traces back to July 11, 2022, when Lauderhill police officers responded to a welfare check at West’s residence and discovered the 71 year old homeowner dead inside. His body was reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition, indicating that he had died some time before authorities arrived. Investigators subsequently determined that West died of natural causes.

According to reporting by WPLG Local 10, an officer contacted the medical examiner’s office following the discovery and represented that West had no surviving heirs. That assertion later became significant because West did have surviving relatives who retained an interest in his estate. Authorities allege that information obtained through the original police response ultimately helped facilitate Sguros’ unauthorized occupation of the property.

Within weeks of West’s death, investigators say Sguros moved into the residence with his partner and began treating the property as his own. What initially appeared to neighbors as an unusually rapid change in occupancy allegedly developed into a yearslong arrangement involving property maintenance, construction work and the use of identification belonging to a deceased homeowner.

Investigators Say Officer Used Dead Man’s Identity to Renovate Property

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, investigators uncovered evidence that Sguros allegedly accessed law enforcement databases to obtain personal information about West and used the deceased man’s identity in transactions involving the property. Authorities contend that the officer submitted documentation that made it appear West was still alive when seeking permits for renovations.

The alleged conduct extended beyond simply occupying the home. Investigators say Sguros paid property taxes and utilities, undertook extensive remodeling and used forged documentation to obtain government approvals for construction work. West’s driver’s license was also reportedly used in connection with the alleged scheme, raising questions about how official records and identification documents were verified during the permitting process.

In February 2025, Sguros reportedly submitted paperwork to the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office claiming that his possession of the property began in August 2022, shortly after West’s death. Investigators examined that filing alongside property records, permit applications and other documentation as they reconstructed the officer’s alleged activities.

The renovations reportedly contributed to a property valued at approximately $500,000, although the precise financial impact of the improvements has not been independently established. The property’s increased value does not, by itself, establish how much of the appreciation resulted from construction rather than broader changes in South Florida’s real estate market.

Longtime Neighbor Says Officer’s Arrival Raised Suspicions

A longtime neighbor who had lived next door to West since the 1990s told WPLG Local 10 that the circumstances surrounding Sguros’ arrival appeared unusual. The neighbor reportedly became suspicious when the officer moved into the residence relatively quickly after West’s death, particularly given the limited time that had passed since authorities discovered the homeowner’s body.

Despite those concerns, Sguros allegedly continued occupying the property while extensive renovations took place. The visible construction and ongoing residential use of the home suggest that the alleged arrangement was not concealed from the surrounding neighborhood, even as questions remained about the officer’s legal authority to occupy the residence.

The neighbor’s account provides additional context for investigators examining how the property changed hands in practice, although the observations alone do not establish criminal wrongdoing. The central issue remains whether Sguros knowingly used false information and his access to law enforcement resources to exercise control over property belonging to someone else’s estate.

Surviving Relatives Sell Home, Exposing Alleged Takeover

The alleged scheme began unraveling when West’s surviving relatives sold the property to a company identified in local reporting as Equinox. Representatives of the purchasing company subsequently arrived at the residence expecting to take possession of the home, only to discover that Sguros was living there. The discovery prompted questions about how the officer had obtained access to the residence, why he had been occupying it for years and what documentation supported his claimed right to remain there. Investigators subsequently examined the property’s ownership history, the original welfare check and records associated with the renovations.

The existence of West’s surviving relatives also contradicted the earlier reported claim that the deceased homeowner had no heirs. That discrepancy became a significant element of the investigation because it raised questions about whether false representations concerning West’s estate helped facilitate the officer’s continued occupation.

Officer Arrested on Five Felony Charges

Following the joint investigation, Sguros was arrested and booked into the Broward County Jail on October 20, 2026. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the five felony charges include 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 communication device.

The allegations involve both the officer’s conduct while serving in law enforcement and his subsequent activities involving the property. Investigators contend that Sguros improperly accessed official databases and used information obtained through those systems to facilitate transactions connected to the deceased homeowner’s residence. The Lauderhill Police Department initially relieved Sguros of duty on July 22, 2026, placing him on paid administrative leave while the investigation proceeded. Following his October 20 arrest, the department changed his employment status to administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.

Sguros is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The charges represent allegations brought by investigators and prosecutors, and the case has not resulted in a criminal conviction.

Case Raises Questions About Police Authority and Government Oversight

Beyond the criminal allegations against one officer, the investigation raises broader questions about the safeguards designed to prevent the misuse of law enforcement databases, deceased individuals’ personal information and government property records. The alleged scheme involved multiple administrative systems, including police records, property tax accounts, building permits and documentation associated with estate ownership.

Authorities allege that Sguros was able to use information connected to a deceased homeowner to obtain permits and maintain possession of a residence for years. If established in court, those allegations would illustrate how unauthorized access to sensitive information can potentially facilitate property fraud and other misconduct beyond an officer’s official duties.

The case also highlights the challenges surrounding homes left vacant after an owner’s death, particularly when surviving relatives are not immediately involved in managing the estate. Although the circumstances surrounding West’s property remain the subject of criminal proceedings, the allegations underscore the importance of accurate ownership records, identity verification and oversight when government agencies process transactions involving deceased individuals.

For the Lauderhill Police Department, the investigation presents additional questions about internal controls governing officers’ access to confidential databases and the mechanisms available to detect potentially improper searches. Authorities have not publicly established whether additional safeguards failed or whether other individuals participated in the alleged misconduct.

Investigation Remains Active Following Officer’s Arrest

The Broward Sheriff’s Office has indicated that the investigation remains active as authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding Sguros’ alleged occupation of West’s home and his use of the deceased man’s identity. The criminal proceedings will ultimately determine whether prosecutors can establish that the officer knowingly engaged in the alleged misconduct.

For West’s surviving relatives, the case concerns a home that investigators say was occupied, altered and maintained for years without authorization from its lawful owners. For the broader South Florida community, the allegations raise questions about public trust and the potential consequences when someone entrusted with enforcing the law is accused of exploiting that authority for personal benefit. The case now moves through the criminal justice system, where the evidence supporting the allegations will be subject to judicial scrutiny and Sguros will have an opportunity to contest the charges.

Sources & Further Reading

• Broward Sheriff’s Office: Lauderhill Police Officer Arrested Following Joint Investigation With Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, October 20, 2026.
• WPLG Local 10: Television investigation into the arrest of Brian Sguros, the alleged property takeover and interviews with neighbors.
• NBC 6 South Florida: Local reporting on the officer’s arrest and allegations involving the deceased homeowner’s identification.