Mayor Jake Windham said Pearl police "were not in the wrong" when they pursued a speeding vehicle that crashed into a Postal Service truck, killing a mail carrier."Our officers do not like to pursue, but it is their job," Windham said. "It's important to understand that the people that run are not simply everyday folks looking to avoid a ticket. An overwhelming majority of them are criminals looking to avoid arrest for far more serious offenses than speeding."Brandon Andrews, 20, of Flowood, was arrested after the crash that killed Brad Pennington, 32, a mail carrier since 2015. According to the city of Pearl, Andrews is out on bond for a felony charge in Flowood for allegedly selling narcotics while in possession of a firearm and a stolen firearm. He is suspected of kidnapping and murder in Jackson and was charged in 2021 in Hinds County in connection with an armed robbery and shooting into a vehicle. Windham, a former police officer, said officers did not know of Andrews' criminal history when they tried to pull him over on Thursday. "The reason we pull over and pursue is because they're people like that," Windham said. "There's something sinister that they're holding back, and this is proof that it's true."Windham also responded to a statement released Thursday by Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. "According to a media release from the city of Pearl, the pursuit began after the suspect failed to pull over for a traffic stop," Lumumba said in the statement. "I want to reiterate that police pursuits that enter our city from multiple jurisdictions do not make us safer. There are often tragic outcomes like this one for minor traffic stops, and we have experienced it before. What often isn’t considered is the effect these pursuits have on innocent bystanders, and it is something we believe needs to be changed." Lumumba went on to say the city is not "anti-pursuit," but is against police pursuits for minor violations that he said can end with tragic consequences."Not once did Mayor Lumumba condemn Brandon Andrews for running from the police for breaking the law or causing the death of the postal employee. That is unacceptable. His only blame was on the Pearl police," Windham said.Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes has been a longtime critic of police pursuits into Jackson. Stokes called a news conference Thursday, shortly after the incident was reported."I'm asking for the president of the council to schedule a meeting with the surrounding cities and towns to see if we can get a win-win to stop the chasing in Jackson. It's important, if we have lost a government employee, that we do everything we can to stop this," Stokes said."I don't care what Kenny Stokes thinks," Windham said when asked about Stokes' comments.Windham said he hasn't spoken to Lumumba about the pursuit but plans to.