Police have released the identity of a suspect believed to be responsible for using a vehicle to assault a police officer during a drug bust Tuesday morning in Niles.

According to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, an arrest warrant has been issued for 28-year-old Ryan Jamal Earl, of South Bend, Ind.

The warrant lists five charges:

• Felony delivery of cocaine less than 50 grams

• Felony fleeing police in the third degree

• Felony assault of a police officer

• Felony assault with a dangerous weapon

• Misdemeanor possession of marijuana

Police describe Earl as being a 5-foot-10 black male. His address is listed as 1405 Northside Blvd., South Bend.

Police ask anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of Earl to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-342-7867 or Det./Sgt. Fred Laesch at (269) 983-7141 ext. 4711.

The officer injured in the case is Sgt. Trent Babcock, an 11-year veteran with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. He was treated and released from South Bend Memorial Hospital for an injury to his left knee.

The incident began at around 11 a.m. when Berrien County Narcotics officers were investigating possible drug activity at a convenience store on Stateline Road near South 11th Street in Niles Township.

Narcotics officers observed a vehicle back into an area where drug transactions were taking place. At that time, narcotics officers made contact with the Niles Township Sheriff’s Patrol and requested contact of the suspect vehicle and occupant.

As the uniform sheriff’s patrol deputy arrived in the area to make contact with the suspect vehicle, the patrol deputy exited his vehicle after activating the overhead lights. The suspect placed the vehicle in drive as the deputy was exiting his vehicle, striking the deputy with the front of the suspect vehicle and causing him to roll over the trunk of the parked squad car.

The suspect vehicle fled the scene travelling south on US 933. Narcotics officers followed the vehicle to an apartment complex in South Bend.

Indiana police assisted in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the suspect.