Lauderhill officer resigns after alleged misuse of dead man’s identity
Key Points(5)
- A Lauderhill police officer has resigned in lieu of termination following an internal investigation into allegations involving residential property in the South Florida city.
- Brian Sguros resigned effective immediately after the city initiated termination proceedings, Lauderhill officials said Tuesday.
- Sguros was arrested Oct.
- 20 and charged with five offenses, including official misconduct, criminal use of personal identification information and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.
- The charges remain pending.
A Lauderhill police officer has resigned in lieu of termination following an internal investigation into allegations involving residential property in the South Florida city.
Brian Sguros resigned effective immediately after the city initiated termination proceedings, Lauderhill officials said Tuesday.
Investigators allege that Sguros began trying to take control of the home of Dennis West, 71, after responding to a welfare check and finding him dead in July 2022. Authorities say Sguros falsely told the medical examiner that he was West’s friend and that the homeowner had no living relatives, then used West’s identification to pay property taxes and utility bills and obtain permits for repairs.
Investigators also allege that he forged West’s signature and used law enforcement databases to obtain information about him. Sguros has argued in court filings that he took possession of the deteriorating property to protect it from squatters and spent more than $200,000 of his own money repairing it.
Sguros was arrested Oct. 20 and charged with five offenses, including official misconduct, criminal use of personal identification information and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. The charges remain pending.
The Lauderhill Police Department received a complaint about Sguros’ conduct involving residential property on May 27, prompting Chief Constance Stanley to order an Internal Affairs investigation that day.
The department’s Professional Standards Unit worked with the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office Crimes Against Property Unit to assist with the criminal investigation.
Sguros was placed on paid administrative leave in July while the criminal investigation continued. Following his arrest, the leave was changed to unpaid status.
The city subsequently initiated termination proceedings under Florida law and applicable city procedures. Sguros resigned before officials took final action on his termination.
“The trust of our residents is the foundation of everything we do,” Stanley said in a statement, adding that conduct that betrays the public’s trust would not be tolerated.
City Manager Kennie Hobbs Jr. said residents should be able to contact the police department with confidence and that the city acted once the allegations came to light.
The department said it will report Sguros’ separation and the circumstances surrounding it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, which oversees law enforcement officer certification in the state.
The department is cooperating with the agencies handling the criminal case and urged residents to sign up for the Broward County Property Appraiser’s free Owner Alert service. The service sends email notifications when documents are recorded against a property.
The city declined to comment further on the charges while the criminal case is pending.
