Boynton man arrested on drug charges

His sibling is charged in 2015 killing of their step-grandfather.

A 22-year- old Boynton Beach man whose brother is facing murder charges in the death of their step-grandfather was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly was caught in possession of heroin and crack cocaine.

City police arrested Hovannes Saroyan after a pursuit late Wednesday in the 800 block of Southwest First Street, south of Atlantic Avenue and east of Interstate 95.

He is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance near a park, possession of heroin and resisting an officer without violence.

Saroyan bonded out of jail Friday after posting a $10,000 bail.

Police say that Saroyan r a n a n d h i d a s o f f i c e r s approached a home across the street from Rev. J.W.H. Thomas Jr. Park at Southwest First Street and Southwest Ninth Avenue. The scene unfolded shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Saroyan does not reside at the home and was in an area known for drug activ- ity, police said.

His family has had a histor y of l e g a l t roubles i n the city, with his younger b r o t h e r, H a r u t , f a c i n g charges in the Februar y 2015 killing of the brothers’ step-grandfather, Lucanes Joseph.

Har u t S a roy a n , 2 0, i s a c c u s e d o f s e t t i n g u p a r o b b e r y t h a t l e d t o h i s step-grandfather’s slaying. His case is due for a status check Monday, according to court records.

Hovannes Saroyan’s criminal history includes a 2012 arrest on charges of aggrav a t e d a s s a u l t a n d f a l s e imprisonment of an adult.

The case was dismissed when prosecutors decided not to pursue the charges, according to court records.

During Wednesday’s incident, police spotted Saroyan and ordered him to come out of his hiding spot. An officer patted him down and found a glue container filled with what was determined to be crack cocaine, an arrest report said.

The officer also found a small, clear plastic bag in Saroyan’s front pocket that contained heroin, the report said.