Florida Police Officer Arrested After Living in Dead Man's Home for Over Two Years

A South Florida police officer has been arrested after authorities discovered he allegedly took over and moved into the home of a deceased resident he discovered during a welfare check. Brian Louis Sguros, a 35-year-old officer with the Lauderhill Police Department, faces multiple felony charges following an extensive joint investigation by county detectives and property appraisal officials.

The case began in July 2022 when Sguros responded to a routine call to check on the wellbeing of Dennis West, a 71-year-old homeowner in Lauderhill. Upon entering the residence, the officer found West dead from natural causes, concluding the initial welfare check.

According to arrest records released by the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Sguros subsequently misled the local medical examiner by falsely claiming to be a close personal friend of West. Investigators stated that he told officials the deceased man had no living relatives, effectively stalling standard efforts to identify next of kin.

Within weeks of West's death, Sguros allegedly moved into the deceased man's residence and established control over the property, which is valued at more than $400,000. Investigators found that the officer began paying local utility bills and municipal property taxes directly under West's name to avoid suspicion.

Prosecutors allege that Sguros abused his official police authority to facilitate the unauthorized occupancy. Court records indicate that he repeatedly accessed restricted law enforcement databases without permission to obtain West's sensitive personal identifying details and background records.

During his more than two years living in the home, Sguros carried out extensive structural renovations, claiming to have spent roughly $210,000 on property upgrades. To secure necessary municipal building permits, Sguros repeatedly forged the deceased homeowner's signature on official city paperwork to create the false appearance that West was still alive and residing there.

The unauthorized residency continued undisturbed until a real estate investment company conducted independent genealogy research and located West's legitimate surviving heirs. After purchasing the legal rights to the estate from the family, representatives from the investment firm arrived at the house and unexpectedly encountered Sguros living inside.

When confronted with the impending transfer of ownership, Sguros reportedly attempted to demand substantial monetary reimbursement for the out-of-pocket improvements he had made to the residence. That claim prompted deeper scrutiny from county investigators and the Broward County Property Appraiser's Office, unraveling the fraudulent enterprise.

Sguros was booked into the Broward County jail on several felony charges, including official misconduct, fraudulent use of a deceased individual's personal identification, and unlawful computer access. Lauderhill police officials confirmed that the officer was promptly relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave without pay following his arrest.

Law enforcement leaders emphasized that the case represents an egregious breach of the public trust placed in first responders during vulnerable moments. Sguros is scheduled to make his initial appearances in Broward County criminal court as prosecutors prepare formal filings in the coming weeks.