Man allegedly steals police car after his arrest

MALDEN, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man allegedly stole a police car after an officer from the Malden Police Department arrested him.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, John Christopher Jenkins was apprehended in a field later Wednesday.

Malden Chief of Police Jarrett Bullock said Jenkins initally was arrested at a Malden residence Wednesday morning in response to a request from Stoddard County officials.

Jenkins was taken into custody, double handcuffed and buckled into the Chevrolet Impala police cruiser belonging to Malden Police when the arresting officer returned to the residence momentarily. During that time, the suspect stole the police car and fled.

"We are talking about 45 seconds," Bullock said. "This was no fault of any officer."

Bullock said there was no gun in the vehicle, and no gun was found on the suspect before the arrest.

Law enforcement officials from Stoddard and Dunklin Counties as well as the Highway Patrol conducted aerial and ground searches for Jenkins.

"There is no reason to believe he is here," Bullock said earlier Wednesday. "No reason to believe he is in town."

According to the Malden School District, its buildings was placed on lockdown since learning of the incident.

However, the district ran its regular afternoon bus routes.

At 4:34 p.m. Wednesday, Bullock said the cruiser was found.