Saskatoon police and the provincial coroner’s office are working to determine if an officer’s use of force while arresting a man after a stolen vehicle crash contributed to the 21-year-old’s death.

Police Chief Clive Weighill held a media conference Thursday, stating the police service and coroner are still working to determine how the man, Jordan Lafond, died.

Lafond, a passenger in the stolen truck, died in hospital the morning after the Oct. 23 crash.

According to police, the vehicle crashed into a fence near Bethlehem Catholic High School while allegedly fleeing officers. Lafond was transported to hospital and a second man, a 20-year-old, was taken into custody and later charged with dangerous driving causing death, evading police causing death, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and several other offences.

Police initially stated they believed Lafond died as a result of the collision, but now investigators are not sure if he died of injuries suffered in the crash or if he was injured by a police officer’s knee when he was taken into custody.

“In the use of force and in the original report done by the officer he clearly articulated that he did a knee strike to the individual while he was trying to arrest him. That raised the question, ‘Was this maybe part of some of the injuries?’” Weighill said.

Weighill said the police service alongside Lafond’s family requested an autopsy after information about the arrest came to light.

He said police believe Lafond, who was found underneath the rear of the truck following the crash, was ejected from the vehicle at the point of collision. He said police attempting to take Lafond into custody believed the 21-year-old was actively resisting and used force to handcuff him.

One officer, while in the kneeling position, used his knee to subdue Lafond, according to Weighill.

“I’ve personally met with the family of Mr. Lafond, who were accompanied by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Special Investigations Unit, to assure them that every investigative tool will be used to determine the circumstances of this event,” Weighill said.

The officer, a 10-year member of the Saskatoon Police Service, has since been reassigned to an administrative position.

The province is overseeing the investigation, and the police service is reviewing the actions of the officers involved in the arrests, Weighill said.