SEATAC, Wash. -- A car thief led police on a wild chase Saturday night through parts of DesMoines, SeaTac and Burien.

A police officer was slightly injured and four patrol cars were smashed during the chase which reached speeds of 110 mph.

King County Sheriff’s deputies told KIRO TV News that it all started when the thief stole a Cadillac Escalade that was idling in the passenger pick up area of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at around 6 p.m.

Deputies said the driver of the Escalade had presumably stepped out to assist an arriving passenger when the thief struck and took off in the car.

KIRO Reporter Graham Johnson said that a King County detective spotted the stolen car about 20 minutes later and began following it.

The chase was quickly on as several police cars joined in the pursuit that wound through the communities surrounding the airport.

Johnson reported that the thief eventually crashed the Escalade on South 188th Street after going the wrong way on an on-ramp to Interstate-5. The car burst into flames and the car thief had to be rescued.

Deputies brought the owners of the SUV to the scene to identify their stolen property.

Police did not officially identify the suspect, but he is believed to be a convicted felon.