Florida police officer accused of stealing dead man identity and house

A Florida police officer stole the identity and house of a man he found dead during a welfare check, the Guardian reported on Wednesday. Brian Louis Sguros, aged 35, appeared in court after being charged with offenses including the criminal use of a deceased person's identification. [1]

Sguros is an officer with the Lauderhill police department near Miami. The Guardian reported that he was sent as part of a team in July 2022 to check on the welfare of Lauderhill resident Dennis West, whom officers found dead at the scene. [1]

Following the discovery, Sguros spent years renovating the home for himself, according to the Guardian. The officer claimed that he took possession of the property and renovated it to prevent criminal activity and squatting. [1]