The Eyrie

BROWARD COUNTY, FL — A Lauderhill police officer is accused of using a dead man’s identity to seize control of his home and keep it for years, according to Broward County investigators.

Authorities say 35-year-old Brian Sguros was arrested this week after a joint investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office Crimes Against Property Unit. He is facing multiple felony charges. Investigators allege the case began after a welfare check in 2022 led officers to the home of Dennis West, who was found dead of natural causes.

From there, investigators say, the case turned into a property fraud probe that stretched on for years.

Investigators say the scheme began after West was found dead in 2022

According to Broward County investigators, Sguros responded to the welfare check that uncovered West’s body. West had died of natural causes, and investigators say the officer then took steps to gain control of the property after the death.

Authorities have not released every detail of the alleged scheme, but they say it was complex and deliberate. The accusations center on a home that West owned and on actions taken after his death, not just a one-time act. Prosecutors have not publicly detailed the exact charges in the arrest announcement, though officials confirmed they are felony counts.

The investigation is being handled as a property crimes case rather than a routine death inquiry.

Authorities allege identity theft was used to control the home

Broward County investigators say Sguros allegedly used West’s identity to take possession of the house and to continue acting as if he had authority over it. They say the goal was to keep control of the residence over several years.

The accusation goes beyond simple trespass or unauthorized entry. Officials say the officer allegedly built a scheme that allowed him to present himself as connected to the property after West died. That alleged conduct is central to the criminal case now underway.

The property appraiser’s office is part of the investigation because of the suspected effort to manipulate records tied to the home.

Permit applications allegedly helped renovate the property over time

Investigators say the alleged fraud was not limited to taking over the house. They also claim Sguros used West’s identity to obtain permits for renovations at the residence over the years.

That detail suggests the alleged scheme continued well after the original welfare check and was not quickly discovered. By using permits, investigators say, the suspect may have been able to keep up the appearance of legitimate control over the property while work was done on the home.

Officials did not say what renovations were planned or completed, and they have not said whether the property changed hands legally at any point during the investigation.

Lauderhill officer faces felony charges as case stays open

Sguros, who works for the Lauderhill Police Department, is now facing several felony charges. Authorities have not publicly listed all of the counts in the arrest announcement, but they say the case stems from the alleged property takeover and identity misuse.

The arrest has drawn attention because the suspect is himself a police officer, a position that normally carries public trust and access to sensitive information. Broward County officials have not said whether the department has taken any internal action beyond the arrest.

For now, the criminal case remains active and investigators say the work is continuing.

Broward County officials say the inquiry is still developing

Authorities describe the matter as an ongoing investigation, which means more charges or additional findings could still emerge. So far, investigators have said only that the case involved a dead man’s home, alleged identity theft and a long-running effort to keep control of the property.

Officials have not announced a court date, and they have not said whether anyone else may have helped in the alleged scheme. The Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office Crimes Against Property Unit are continuing to work the case.

At this point, the central allegation remains that a police officer allegedly used another man’s identity after his death to hold onto his home.