A police officer in South Florida has been arrested after investigators accused him of using a deceased man’s identity to take control of his home, pay bills, and obtain permits for renovations.
The case involves Brian Lewis, a 35-year-old officer with the Lauderhill Police Department, who was arrested on October 20, 2026, following a months-long investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office.
The investigation initially began with a welfare check on July 11, 2022, at the home of Dennis Ionic in West Lauderhill. Officers later discovered that Ionic had died inside the residence of natural causes, according to investigators.
The police officer, who responded as a backup officer during the welfare check, subsequently became actively involved in matters concerning the deceased homeowner’s property. He allegedly falsely represented himself as an employee of the medical examiner’s office and as a friend of the deceased, while also claiming that the deceased had no family members. However, it was later confirmed that the man had surviving relatives and legal heirs, according to the arrest affidavit cited by local media.
According to investigators, Lewis took possession of Ionic’s home in August 2022 and spent more than two years cleaning, securing, and renovating the property to protect it from criminal activity. He allegedly invested close to $300,000 of his own money in the property.
He also paid property taxes and utility bills that remained in Ionic’s name. Lewis allegedly obtained building permits using personal information and identification details belonging to the deceased to make renovations, including replacing doors and windows and making other construction changes.
Investigators also alleged that he used a forged notary’s signature on documents and that the original notary’s signature and stamp had not been used.
The police officer allegedly accessed the deceased man’s personal information through police databases between July 2022 and January 2023. The information included his address, date of birth, Social Security number, vehicle information, driver’s license details, and other personal records.
The case came to light after a property holding company hired by the surviving heirs asserted an ownership interest in the home. Lewis subsequently surrendered the property keys but sought reimbursement for the renovation expenses he had funded by filing a lawsuit seeking an equitable lien against the property.
According to the sheriff’s office, Lewis was arrested in October 2026 and faces six felony charges, including misconduct, criminal use of a deceased person’s personal identification information, unlawful computer use, and offenses involving communication devices.
During his court appearance, the judge set bond at $25,000 and ordered him to stay away from the property and refrain from contacting the family involved in the case.