BILLERICA, Mass. (AP) – A Tewksbury police officer was shot Wednesday during a struggle with a man accused of robbing a convenience store.

The officer sustained what was described as a “superficial wound” to his leg, said Tewksbury police Chief Al Donovan. He was taken to a hospital, where he was being treated.

Two other officers also were injured during the apprehension of Joseph Croteau, who led police on a chase in two towns after allegedly robbing a Mobil station store.

The officers were not immediately identified, and authorities said they were treated and released for minor cuts and bruises.

The incident started at 11:23 a.m. in Tewksbury. Police received a 911 call about a robbery at the gas station, during which Croteau jumped over the counter and “forcibly took money out of the drawer,” Donovan said.

Croteau then drove off in a blue van and was pursued by police from Tewksbury, then Billerica.

Croteau lost control of the van just over the Billerica town line, crashing it into a telephone pole. He fled on foot, but was met by at least two officers.

During a brief struggle, the Tewksbury officer’s gun went off, the bullet striking the officer in the leg. It was unclear if the suspect was going for the gun at the time, or if it was accidentally discharged, police said.

A second officer sustained cuts and bruises during the struggle. The third officer was injured in a car crash during the pursuit, police said.

Croteau was in the hospital, according to a spokeswoman for the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Lowell District Court. Charges had not been finalized Wednesday evening.

AP-ES-03-01-06 1716EST