The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability has released the names of those involved in a fatal collision that occurred on October 10, 2025, in Middletown, New Jersey. The incident involved a marked police vehicle driven by Officer Timothy Funk of the Atlantic Highlands Police Department and a cyclist identified as Henry Phillips Jr., 73, from Atlantic Highlands.
Preliminary findings indicate that around 1:00 p.m., Officer Funk was driving on Orchard Avenue and stopped at a red light at the intersection with Route 36. Mr. Phillips was riding an e-bike southbound in the northbound lane of Route 36. The collision happened when Officer Funk made a right turn on red, resulting in contact with Mr. Phillips’ e-bike.
Mr. Phillips was transported by air to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead on October 19, 2025.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. No additional information is being provided at this time.
A state law enacted in 2019 requires that any death occurring during an encounter with law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity must be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office. The law also mandates that these cases be presented to a grand jury to decide whether charges should be brought against the officer or officers involved.
More details about procedures for investigating fatal police encounters under New Jersey’s Independent Prosecutor Directive are available online.
