Lauderhill police officer Brian Sguros was arrested this week on five felony charges, including official misconduct and criminal use of a deceased person's identification, after investigators accused him of a "complex scheme" to take control of a homeowner's property. Authorities say Sguros discovered Dennis West dead during a welfare check in August 2022 and subsequently took possession of the two-story house near Fort Lauderdale.
According to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Sguros told the medical examiner he was friends with West and that the man had no family, which was false. Investigators allege he then used West's identification to pay taxes and utilities, forged West's signature to obtain repair permits, and accessed law enforcement databases to gather information about the deceased.
Sguros claimed in court documents that he took over the property weeks after finding the body to "prevent squatters from taking control of it," believing he was acting lawfully to restore a dangerous, abandoned residence. He stated he spent more than $200,000 of his own money on repairs over 2 1/2 years and filed paperwork with the county appraiser in February 2025 asserting his possession.
The scheme unraveled after a real estate group purchased the home from West's relatives in 2025. Sguros then filed a civil case against the company seeking reimbursement for the renovation costs. He appeared in court Wednesday on the criminal charges and has been suspended from the police force.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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