A teenager stole an airport police car at Lambert Field and led police on a high-speed pursuit on Interstate 55 that ended near Festus on Monday. The chase ended when the car hit tire deflation spikes, went into a spin and slid into a median.

The incident began about 3:20 p.m. An airport police officer on patrol pulled over in front of the Main Terminal to handle traffic, said Chief Paul Mason. The officer left the car unlocked and running with the keys inside.

The officer had been out of his marked patrol car for about five minutes when he noticed it was missing, Mason said. Dispatchers broadcast a bulletin alerting area police departments to the theft.

Officers caught up with the stolen police car on Interstate 270 about 4 p.m. The driver had turned on the emergency lights and reportedly was driving the wrong way southbound near Interstate 44, police said