MIAMI - Authorities allege that a Florida police officer found a man dead during a welfare check, then took his house and identity and spent years renovating the property for himself, according to The Guardian’s report.
The Guardian reported that the officer, Brian Louis Sguros, 35, works for the Lauderhill police department near Miami and appeared in court. The outlet said he described taking possession of the property and renovating it "to prevent criminal activity" and to prevent squatting.
ABC News reported that the officer is on paid administrative leave and faces up to five felony charges. It said he is accused of stealing a dead man's identity to take over his house, in a video report from ABC News.
The two outlets' accounts differ in focus. The Guardian's summary centers on the property and the court appearance, while ABC News's summary centers on the officer's employment status and the felony charges he faces. Neither summary names the man who was found dead, and neither reports how the case has been resolved so far.
Both outlets attribute the core allegations to authorities, and this account is limited to what their published summaries state. Details beyond those summaries, including the full court filings and the complete list of charges, are not contained in the material reviewed for this story.
Sources: The Guardian: Florida police officer finds man dead and steals his house and identity, authorities allege; ABC News: WATCH: Florida officer accused of stealing dead man's identity to take over his house.