A police chief and another officer were shot while trying to stop armed robbery suspects on the island of St. Croix, authorities said Sunday.

Residents told investigators that up to 10 shots were fired at the two officers at a roadblock they set up late Saturday. The gunmen escaped.

St. Croix Police Chief Christopher Howell and Officer Elsworth Jones were being treated for non-life threatening injuries but might require more surgery, Police Commissioner Henry White said. He said Howell was shot in the left arm and lower back and Jones' face was injured by shrapnel and gunfire.

White said the two officers were responding to a robbery at the Eat at Cane Bay restaurant and were seeking three suspects when they were shot.

Police said the robbers fired shots at the restaurant without injuring anyone and stole cash and jewelry from diners.

St. Croix is the largest and poorest of the three-island U.S. territory in the Caribbean.