A Lauderhill police officer has been arrested and charged with official misconduct and identity-related crimes, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday, Oct. 20. Brian Louis Sguros, 35, is being held in the Broward County jail without bail.
Investigators said Sguros was a backup officer on a July 11, 2022, welfare check at a home at 4551 Northwest 12th Street in Lauderhill. The resident, 71-year-old Dennis West, was found dead inside. Afterward, deputies said, Sguros inserted himself into West’s post-death affairs.
The sheriff’s office said Sguros told the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office that he was West’s friend, though investigators found no sign the two had known each other. He also allegedly said West had no living family, which the agency said was false.
According to the sheriff’s office, Sguros paid taxes and utilities on West’s home in the victim’s name and used West’s identification to make it appear he was still alive. The goal, investigators said, was to get the city of Lauderhill to issue a permit for repairs. A detective determined that Sguros forged West’s signature on the permit, and deputies said he used law enforcement databases to look up information about West.
The charges include criminal use of deceased personal identification and criminal use of personal identification information. Investigators also said Sguros filed paperwork with the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office in February 2025 claiming he had possessed the property since August 2022, weeks after West’s death.
WPBF 25 News contacted the Lauderhill Police Department about Sguros’ employment status and was awaiting a response.
