Brookhaven police thought they were chasing a simple stolenvehicle Wednesday night, but it turned out to be much more thanjust a quick run through town.

Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson said a vehicle stolen inBrookhaven led some of his officers on a chase that ended them inJackson, with a suspect wanted for questioning in a murder in thatarea.

The vehicle’s owner left her car running around 10:30 p.m.Wednesday at the Handy-Mart #3. When she came out of theconvenience store she reported seeing a black male driving off inher car, Henderson said.

“He was headed west on Brookway Boulevard,” he said. “We hadofficers at Exit 42, and when the vehicle came by they got inpursuit.”

When the BPD units attempted to pull the vehicle over, it wouldn’tstop, Henderson said.

The chase continued up Interstate 55 and through Copiah County.Henderson said units from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, JacksonPolice Department and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department alsoassisted in the chase.

The vehicle was finally stopped at mile marker 88, the chief said,at which point the suspect got out on foot, ran a short distanceand was apprehended.

The suspect’s name has not been released yet, but Henderson saidmore information should be available by Thursday afternoon.

The man is being held in Jackson for questioning in a murder,Henderson said, but Brookhaven police have a hold on him for thestolen vehicle.

“We’ve got a hold on him, but they have him up there, of course,because of the nature of a crime like that,” Henderson said.

Brookhaven police will pursue a felony suspect until he isapprehended, Henderson said, and he praised the work of hisofficers that were involved in the chase.

“I don’t believe in pursuing just for speeding, but when someonecommits a felony, we’ll pursue them,” he said. “The officers had todo their job and they did a fantastic job of staying with thisperson and still keeping in mind the safety of the people on theinterstate.”

Henderson said he was also grateful for the help his men receivedfrom the other agencies involved.