Cop accused of stealing dead man's identity and moving into his home after finding body during welfare check
A police officer from Florida has been accused of stealing the identity of a man he found dead during a welfare check and then moving into his home.
Lauderhill police officer Brian Sguros was called out to do a welfare check at the home of 71-year-old Dennis West in July 2022 following a call from a concerned neighbour, according to Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
However, after finding West deceased, BSO have alleged that Sguros ‘created a complex scheme to take control of the individual’s home’.
In a press release, BSO alleged that Sguros ‘became involved in West’s post-death affairs’, including attending the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office where he allegedly posed as West’s friend, despite there being no evidence that the pair had ever met, and claimed that West had no family, which was not true.
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The press release claims ‘Sguros paid the taxes and utilities at the home in West’s name and used West’s identification to make it appear that West was still alive to get the city of Lauderhill to issue a permit to facilitate repairs’ and accuses him of using his access to law enforcement databases to obtain information on West.
The 21-page affidavit alleges Sguros forged West’s signature on multiple documents, and between August 2022 and February 2025 spent more than $210,000 of his own money upgrading the property, including replacing doors and windows in 2024.
In sworn statements through civil pleadings, Sguros reportedly said he took over the property ‘because it was hazardous and he wanted to prevent criminal activity and people from squatting’, the affidavit reads.
A neighbour told WSVN that she saw Sguros at the property, and claims that he told her he was a friend of a West and that the deceased man ‘gave him the house before he passed away’.
She also claims that he was ‘working on the house for a good while’ and had told her he planned to fix it up and use it as a short-term rental property.
The alleged scam came to light in August last year after a real estate company bought the property from West’s family members who had legally inherited the house, the affidavit alleges.
It goes on to claim that the real estate company then gained lawful possession of the home but when it sent out an employee, they encountered Sguros.
Sguros is then claimed to have handed the keys over to the company but ‘demanded reimbursement for repairs and improvements he claimed to have made’.
The cop then allegedly filed a complaint against the real estate company.
Sguros has been arrested on charges of official misconduct, criminal use of deceased personal identification, criminal use of personal identification information, offense against computer users and unlawful use of two-way communication device.
He has not yet commented on the charges and it's unclear if he has legal representation.
He has been released on a $25,000 bond.
According to the BBC, he has been placed on administrative leave with pay from the Lauderhill Police Department.
Claire Reid