Brian Sguros, 35, faces charges including criminal use of a deceased person’s personal identification information, criminal use of personal identification information and an offense involving computer users. The allegations have not been proven in court. His bond was set at $25,000.

Police said the department received a complaint on May 27 and opened an investigation. The inquiry focused on conduct that allegedly began after Sguros and other officers responded to a welfare check in Lauderhill in July 2022. They found a resident who had died of natural causes, according to an arrest affidavit.

Investigators allege Sguros later took control of the home without legal authority. The affidavit also says he used the deceased resident’s identity, along with a notary’s name and seal, on a city building-permit application; sent the documents using his cellphone; and accessed the resident’s records through police computers without authorization. The resident’s lawful heirs were later identified.

The department said Sguros was relieved of duty and placed on paid administrative leave July 22 after the investigation. Following his arrest, he was put on leave without pay. He resigned before the city could take action to terminate him, police said.

Chief Constance Stanley said in a statement that residents must be able to trust officers who enter their homes and that conduct violating that trust would not be tolerated. She said the department acted swiftly and would continue to hold employees to high standards of integrity.