DA clears officer involved in fatal high-speed chase

Oneida County district attorney Jillian Pfeifer has announced she will not pursue criminal charges against a county deputy whose high-speed pursuit of a vehicle ended with the motorist’s death.

On Friday evening, Jan. 17, Oneida County deputy Michael Bedish initiated a pursuit of a vehicle operated by Matthew S.Johnson, 28.

According to Pfeifer’s written decision, issued on March 4, the chase lasted approximately 5 miles and Johnson’s vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour before it collided with another vehicle, resulting in Johnson’s death. Six occupants of the other vehicle were injured in the crash.

“On the evening of January 17, 2025, in response to Deputy Bedish attempting to initiate a traffic stop for multiple counts of misdemeanor bail jumping, as well as operating while revoked, Johnson fled from law enforcement at a high rate of speed, also giving rise to a violation of fleeing and eluding an officer,” Pfeifer wrote. “In response, Deputy Bedish initiated a pursuit of Johnson’s vehicle. When the pursuit was initiated, the traffic was light, the road conditions were wet, and it was starting to snow. Despite Deputy Bedish pursuing Johnson’s vehicle with emergency lights and siren activated, Johnson continued to flee from law enforcement at speeds exceeding 118 mph, resulting in additional violations including reckless driving. Based on multiple criminal offenses being committed as well as Johnson’s continued effort to flee from law enforcement, under the totality of the circumstances, Deputy Bedish was justified in both initiating the pursuit of Johnson’s vehicle as well as continuing the pursuit of Johnson’s vehicle.”

Pfeifer concluded her written decision with a commendation for the Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, which conducted an independent investigation of the officer-involved incident.

“The review of the information from their investigation resulted in the very clear conclusion that Deputy Bedish was justified in pursuing Johnson’s vehicle on January 17, 2025,” she wrote.

In her decision, Pfeifer noted that Bedish initially observed Johnson outside a local gas station.

According to Pfeifer’s recitation of the events that preceded the pursuit, Johnson looked at Deputy Bedish’s marked squad vehicle and immediately looked away, putting his hood up.

This prompted Bedish to run a vehicle registration which resulted in his discovery that Johnson’s driver’s license was revoked and he had a prior conviction for operating while intoxicated.

A search of court records also revealed that Johnson had been released on bond in two pending misdemeanor cases and one of the bonds included a non-monetary condition that Johnson be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle. Bedish’s pursuit of Johnson ended when attempted to pass another northbound vehicle resulting in a collision with a southbound vehicle.

He was pronounced deceased at the scene.