Injured St. Louis police officer leaves hospital following leg amputation

St. Louis Metropolitan Police
St. Louis Police Escort for Officer Nathan Spiess Photo credit St. Louis Metropolitan Police

KANSAS CITY - Police officer Nathan Spiess was critically injured while chasing a 15-year-old car theft suspect on Interstate 70 in St. Louis earlier this month. The suspect and Spiess were then hit by another car which then sped off.

Spiess has had three surgeries since the crash, and part of his right leg was amputated.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police
Tamm Avenue overpass at Highway 40 Photo credit St. Louis Metropolitan Police

This was not the first time Spiess was injured. Back in January of 2022, he and his partner Colin Ledbetter were shot in Ferguson while pursuing a murder suspect. Spiess was shot in his left leg, Ledbetter was medically dead, but miraculously pulled through after eight surgeries. And when Colin was discharged from the hospital, his partner Nathan Spiess was there to meet him, still on crutches.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police
Officers Nathan Spiess and Colin Ledbetter Photo credit St. Louis Metropolitan Police

And on this Wednesday, as Nathan left Barnes Hospital, his brother wheeled him to his marked police car where he was transported by three different members of his squad to an undisclosed location. Colin Ledbetter is not pictured, but was there.

Featured Image Photo Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police