Lauderhill, Florida — A Lauderhill police officer is facing five criminal charges after investigators alleged he took control of a deceased man’s home, spent years renovating the property and later used the man’s personal information to obtain a building permit.
Brian Louis Sguros, 35, was arrested Tuesday, according to an arrest affidavit from the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Investigators allege that Sguros used information obtained through his police duties to access records about the deceased homeowner and subsequently became involved in a dispute over ownership of the property.
The case centers on a home in Lauderhill, the circumstances surrounding its owner’s death and documents that investigators say contained the deceased man’s identifying information and a purported signature.
Sguros has been placed on leave without pay. The allegations remain subject to the legal process.
Officer Discovered the Man’s Body During Welfare Check
According to the arrest affidavit, Sguros and another Lauderhill police officer responded to a welfare check at 4551 NW 12th St. on July 11, 2022.
A neighbor had contacted authorities because she had not seen the homeowner, Dennis Ionis West, for approximately two weeks.
Officers entered the residence through an unlocked front door and discovered West’s body near the entrance. An autopsy determined that West died of cardiovascular disease, and his death was ruled natural.
Investigators reviewed body camera footage showing Sguros participating in the response. The affidavit reportedly indicated there was no sign that he told the other officers he knew West.
However, records showed that Sguros later identified himself as West’s friend when communicating with the medical examiner’s office. He also offered to handle funeral arrangements if relatives could not be located.
Investigators eventually determined that West had surviving family members and legal heirs.
Police Say Officer Took Control of the Home Weeks Later
The affidavit states that Sguros acknowledged in sworn court documents that he took possession of West’s property around August 1, 2022, only weeks after the homeowner’s death.
Neighbor Lethel Haye questioned how quickly Sguros appeared to take control of the residence.
“I was wondering, Dennis had just passed away and how could he have gotten the house so quick,” Haye said.
She described extensive work being carried out at the property, including the removal of deteriorated boards and other materials.
According to the affidavit, Sguros said he spent more than two years cleaning, securing and renovating the home. In court filings, he claimed to have invested at least $214,000 of his own money and increased the property’s value to approximately $500,000.
Sguros maintained that the work was intended to protect the vacant property from squatters and criminal activity.
Investigators found records showing that he paid property taxes while the home remained registered under West’s estate. He also reportedly made a payment of more than $2,500 toward a utility account that remained in West’s name nearly two years after the death.
In February 2025, Sguros and another individual filed paperwork seeking to establish adverse possession of the property. According to the affidavit, that filing did not itself establish legal ownership.
Building Permit Allegedly Used Deceased Man’s Identity
A central part of the investigation involves a building permit application submitted in August 2024 for an $8,000 project to replace windows and exterior doors at the home.
Investigators said the application identified West as the property owner, included information from his driver’s license and contained a signature purportedly belonging to him. The documents also indicated that West had appeared before a notary in August 2024, more than two years after his death.
The phone number listed for West on the application allegedly belonged to Sguros.
Detectives interviewed an employee of Active Builders Inc., the company involved in the renovation work. According to the affidavit, the employee said Sguros provided documents needed for the permit, including a copy of West’s driver’s license.
The employee reportedly believed West was alive and owned the property based on the information provided.
Investigators also reviewed text messages between the employee and Sguros that allegedly included images of West’s identification and building permit paperwork.
The notary whose name appeared on the documents told investigators she did not recognize the paperwork and said the signature was not hers. She also reportedly questioned the size of the notary stamp.
Investigators Examined Police Database Searches
The affidavit also alleges that Sguros improperly accessed law enforcement databases to obtain information about West.
Records reportedly showed that Sguros conducted seven database searches between July 2022 and January 2023 using a computer issued by the Lauderhill Police Department.
The searches involved West’s driver’s license and vehicle registration records. Investigators said the results included personal information such as his address, date of birth, Social Security number and vehicle details.
One search conducted in January 2023 specifically identified West as deceased, according to authorities.
These database searches became part of the broader investigation into whether Sguros improperly used information available through his official duties.
Property Ownership Dispute Led to Investigation
The case came to light after Equinox Realty Holdings became involved with the property, according to the affidavit.
The company located West’s surviving heirs and acquired their ownership interests in the home. A Broward County court subsequently recognized the heirs’ interests and the conveyances to Equinox.
Investigators said Sguros eventually surrendered the keys but sought reimbursement for the improvements he claimed to have made.
In February 2026, he filed a civil lawsuit seeking an equitable lien against the property based on the money he said he had invested in renovations.
The company’s attorney later filed a complaint with the Lauderhill Police Department, raising concerns about Sguros’ involvement with the home and his alleged use of information obtained through police duties.
The investigation involved the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Deed Fraud Task Force and Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Five Criminal Charges Listed in the Affidavit
According to the affidavit, investigators found probable cause to pursue five charges against Sguros:
- Official misconduct
- Criminal use of a deceased person’s identification information
- Criminal use of personal identification information
- Offense against a computer user
- Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar criticized the allegations in a statement.
“We hold police officers in the highest regard because they take an oath to protect the public,” Kiar said. “This case is so troubling because this officer has been charged with using his position to defraud the public. I want to thank our BCPA Crimes Against Property Team and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for their detailed and thorough investigation.”
Sguros has been placed on leave without pay as the case proceeds.
The investigation raises questions about property ownership, the handling of a deceased person’s identifying information and the responsibilities of public officials who have access to sensitive records. The criminal allegations have yet to be resolved in court.
What do you think should happen when a public official is accused of misusing their position in a property dispute? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
