The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a preliminary investigation into 128 complaints related to potential safety issues with Jeep and Dodge vehicles.

According to NHTSA’s report, the complaints allege the “Active Head Rest” or AHR’s on the 2014 model Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durangos inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact events.

The agency said the head rests, which are intended to deploy in these rear impact crashes and designed to reduce the risk of neck injury, are sometimes deploying without cause.

Thirteen of the complaints alleged the head rests resulted in injuries mostly involving headaches, disorientation, nausea and vomiting.

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Barbara Savoie of Enfield has a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee that’s subject to NHTSA’s investigation.

“I’m scared. I’m concerned about driving this car,” said Barbara Savoie.

Savoie wasn’t driving her vehicle when the passenger’s side head rest burst open. It was replaced, but she still has reservations.

“If I’m driving down the highway doing 55, 65 miles an hour and that thing blows, I could, said Savoie, I could get into an accident and hurt someone else.”

NHTSA said it appears the head rest may pop open unexpectedly when a plastic material inside, fails due to stress or fatigue.

FCA US LLC which is the parent company for Jeep and Dodge told NBC Connecticut Investigates: “We are providing NHTSA with our full cooperation.”

NHTSA said their investigation will also examine other Fiat Chrysler Automobile models with active head rests to evaluate the scope, frequency and consequences of the alleged defects.

An animal rescue that was shut down in Danbury is under investigation after reopening in Wolcott. Police there started their inquiry into Tails of Courage after someone claimed their new puppy died just hours after it was adopted from the rescue this summer.

During their initial search of their rescue, police say they discovered sick puppies in their care.

NBC Connecticut Investigates requested and obtained prior investigative documents from the Department of Agriculture into Tails of Courage. According to the documents received, State Animal Control Officers have had eyes on the rescue for years.

When you sift through the hundreds of pages of prior reports, you have to ask, how can a rescue with repeated violations continue to run in Connecticut? It’s a question the Kaplans have been wondering since their experience with Tails of Courage.

“I couldn’t even listen to what the doctor was saying because he was like…I just...,” said Emily Kaplan, shaking her head and tearing up.

Emily’s dad Dean finished his daughter’s thought, “The dog shouldn’t have to go through any more of this, let’s put her down.”

In June 2017, Dean Kaplan says he caved and let his daughter adopt a dog. They went to Tails of Courage, then located in Danbury. Days after picking her up, they had to put Callie down.

“How can someone not care at all about another living being like that? I just…,” said Emily, again shaking her head.

Two years later, Connecticut residents are sharing similar sentiments after adopting from Tails of Courage at their latest location in Wolcott.

“He was completely limp and soiled himself. Absolutely horrible,” said Jillian Wanner of Bristol. Wanner told police she had to give Louie CPR just hours after adopting him. Her report to Wolcott Police sparked local animal control to investigate the facility.

“I can’t fathom that people who claim to be rescuing dogs would do the complete opposite and put them in a situation where it’s dirty and diseases can be easily communicable and it’s horrible,” said Wanner.

According to Department of Agriculture reports, in 2013 and 2014, Tails of Courage founder Kristan Exner received written warnings for a violation of 53-247 C.G.S Cruelty to Animals (a) proper care.

In 2013, animal control officers wrote in the conclusion of their investigation report that “two puppies were found in need of medical care and kennel sanitation needed improvement” and “Some outside runs contained several piles of feces and still had snow inside,” among other things.

In 2014 they wrote witnessing “four soaking wet puppies contained in a wet run with no area to get dry,” “no heat source to keep the temperatures reasonable to promote health and comfort to puppies.” They wrote, "No puppy was observed to be sick, but conditions were inadequate for these puppies."

According to a Department of Aagriculture spokesperson, after that 2014 warning “no civil or criminal penalties were sought.”

Following up on a complaint in December of 2017, animal control officers say they found 61 animals at Tails of Courage. Paperwork and pictures detail dirty, “unacceptable conditions,” thirsty and crying animals, some in cages too small for them.

“There was only one kennel worker with 60 dogs. It’s impossible for a human being to take care of that,” said former Tails of Courage employee Melanie Dzamko, who was there the day the order to remove the animals came down at the beginning of January 2018.

Eventually Tails of Courage manager Krystal Lopez was charged with cruelty to animals in 2018. In February 2019, she pled guilty to reckless endangerment and breach of peace in exchange for 2-years-probation as a plea deal.

In court the judge questioned how she could still work for the shelter, “she still continues to work there which just absolutely boggles my brain that you continue working there.”

According to a report obtained from Danbury Police, after a two-month investigation Danbury Police wanted to arrest the founder for cruelty to animals, but their arrest warrant was denied.

Tails of Courage set up shop in Wolcott earlier this year after the City of Danbury agreed to drop a civil lawsuit against the shelter for health and zoning violations if they promised to no longer conduct business in the town, according to counsel for the city.

Despite her conviction, Lopez is listed in paperwork for their latest location in Wolcott, now under investigation for adopting out sick pups there earlier this summer.

NBC Connecticut Investigates reached out to Tails of Courage, but they declined an interview and did not issue a statement.

We repeatedly asked the Department of Agriculture spokesperson for the commissioner to do an interview with us about monitoring animal shelters in our state. A spokesperson for the department said they couldn’t comment on Tails of Courage, as it’s part of an active investigation. The spokesperson said the commissioner would speak once registration regulations for animal shelters are further along in the approval process. These regulations are expected to give the state the ability to do random inspections on all animal shelters. The law creating these regulations was passed in 2017 (HB 6334, AN Act Requiring the Registration of Animal Shelters). Two years later, those regulations have yet to be approved.

Tune in to NBC Connecticut Tuesday at 11 p.m. to hear from former employees who say they were pressured to lie about sick puppies, and why some advocates are calling for stricter laws.

A 15-year-old student was arrested and detained at New Britain High School on Friday, according to police and her father is questioning the school's response.

Video taken by another and shared exclusively with NBC Connecticut shows the student in handcuffs as she is being escorted by two school resource officers.

The student’s father is now raising concerns, saying the school didn’t even let him know his daughter had been arrested.

“I received a phone call from my oldest daughter telling me that my younger daughter that goes to New Britain High School, she was in a holding cell,” Joey Guzman told NBC Connecticut.

Guzman was at work 30 minutes away when he found out his daughter had been arrested at school.

When he got to the school, he snapped a photo of her in one of the holding rooms. The photo garnered a lot of attention on social media this weekend after he posted it on Facebook with the caption saying, in part, “This is what I walked into @New Britain High School- my baby, my 15-year-old daughter confined alone in a holding cell…”

“I spoke to one of the officers and you know he told me why she was in a holding cell and I told him that she’s only 15 years old,” Guzman explained.

Guzman said his daughter was charged with trespassing for allegedly being asked to leave campus and not complying. New Britain Police confirmed the charge.

“First of all, a phone call would’ve been nice,” Guzman said, “I mean, my daughter is a hot head, but she’s still my daughter and I don’t think that any 15-year-old should be handcuffed and locked in a cell.”

The superintendent’s office declined to comment.

New Britain Police confirmed that there are two holding rooms at the high school, and that there are two full-duty officers on site that can arrest and detain students in the holding rooms.

In a meeting with the superintendent and New Britain police Monday, police told Guzman they will review the charge against his daughter, but she still faces a three-day suspension.

“Why was she in there? She didn’t have no drugs. She didn’t have a weapon, and she wasn’t in a fight,” said LaResse Harvey, a community organizer that works to end generational incarceration in Connecticut.

Harvey said she agrees with school resource officer discipline when it comes to criminal offenses involving violence, drugs or weapons. But that what happened with Guzman’s daughter didn’t warrant handcuffs or a holding cell.

“Why didn’t the officer send one of the officers in to have the school contact the father? That would have been proper procedure for a minor incident,” Harvey explained.

NBC Connecticut reached out to the Connecticut Voices for Children out of New Haven, who said there are state-funded programs in place to help schools divert rather than arrest students for minor offenses.

“A public school is not a jail,” said Dr. Lauren Ruth, research and policy director. “It’s an educational facility that should be in the business of educating, not enforcing.”

New Britain High School is one of over 50 schools across the state that participate in the program, which is called the Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI).

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on the July phone call where President Donald Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Joe Biden and his son, a senior State Department official told NBC News.

The July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a related whistleblower complaint are now at the center of House Democrats' impeachment inquiry.

Pompeo's involvement in the call — during which Trump told Zelenskiy that Biden's conduct sounded "horrible" to him — was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It's not unusual for the nation's top diplomat to be on a president's call with a foreign leader, but Pompeo has not acknowledged his involvement.

Pompeo dodged questions about the phone call and the complaint during an interview with ABC's "This Week" on Sept. 22, days before the White House released a summary of the call which showed Trump asking about the Bidens' dealings in Ukraine.

North Haven is stopping outdoor town activities early over concerns about Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

While EEE has not been detected in the town, the move to limit activities follows similar actions by other towns and school districts across the state.

In a Facebook post Monday, Town of North Haven revealed that starting immediately outdoor programs and activities at town or school fields and parks will end by 6:30 p.m. That applies to school, town and league sports and recreational events.

Starting next Monday, the cut off will move earlier to 6 p.m.

Town leaders said the decision follows confirmed cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the state and comes after consultation with state and local health leaders.

So far this season two adults – in Old Lyme and East Lyme – have died from EEE. While the disease is rare, it is deadly in approximately 30 percent of cases, and many survivors suffer brain damage.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 4 to 5 percent of human infections result in EEE.

The town said the precautions will be in place until further notice. Many hope the first hard frost will help end the mosquito season and allow these changes to be lifted.

American Airlines said it was investigating on Monday after video surfaced on social media showing an out-of-control catering cart at O'Hare International Airport.

Video showed the cart moving around in circles on the tarmac as airport workers moved out of its way. The cart came to a standstill when an employee struck it with another airport vehicle.

The accelerator became stuck, and caused the cart to lose control, according to a statement from the airline. The incident resulted in one 10-minute flight delay.

"We appreciate the quick action of our team member who stopped the vehicle," the airline said in the statement. "Safety is our top priority and we are working with our partners to investigate the incident."

Two Connecticut lawmakers are calling for a bear hunt after a hiker was injured by a black bear in the woods in Southbury on Saturday.

Authorities said a man encountered a black bear while hiking in the woods and was knocked down by it. The man was able to safely getaway from the bear, which fled into the woods.

The 38-year-old Newtown man was taken to Danbury Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, experts said.

On Monday Sen. Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) and Sen. Craig Miner (R- Litchfield) released a joint statement pushing for a bear hunt to control the bear population.

“We are relieved to hear that the hiker involved in this incident was not seriously hurt,” said Berthel and Miner in a statement. “However, we are concerned that, given the explosion in black bear population in the western part of the state, these incidents will only continue. We have seen livestock and pets killed, and now a hiker has been attacked. If something isn’t done to properly manage the bear population, we feel a real tragedy is inevitable.”

According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the black bear population in Connecticut is expanding, and reports of sightings are on the rise, even in heavily populated areas. There were over 8,000 bear sightings reported in 2018. 

The idea of a bear hunt has long been floated as a way to control the population in Connecticut. DEEP has come out in support of the idea, but opponents have argued it is not the best approach. 

Bear hunting is permitted in different degrees in four out of six New England states, and New York and New Jersey.

If you observe a black bear from a distance, DEEP suggests you advertise your presence with noise or movement and walk away slowly. Never attempt to feed or attract black bears. It is exceptionally rare for a bear to attack once they have sensed a human.

Bears are typically attracted to garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees and birdfeeders, according to DEEP. For a list of do's and don't on what to do when you encounter a bear, click here.

Firefighters battled an early morning house fire in New Haven on Tuesday.

Crews were called to a home on Blake Street around 2 a.m. after getting a report of a fire.

When the first crews arrived, firefighters said they found heavy smoke pushing from the third floor and a working fire.

Multiple firefighters responded and were able to bring the fire under control, according to New Haven Fire Department.

Authorities have not released details about the extent of the damage to the home.

There is no word if anyone was injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

An investigation is underway after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in Newington on Tuesday morning.

Police said the pedestrian was hit by the vehicle on Main Street close to Market Square around 6:30 a.m.

The pedestrian suffered non-life threatening injuries, officers added.

Authorities said the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

The investigation is ongoing.

The nation's first cannabis cafe was set to open Tuesday in West Hollywood.

Lowell Cafe, located at 1201 N. La Brea Avenue, says the opening is a major step in the normalization of recreational marijuana. 

"Our ultimate goal is to make cannabis like alcohol -- treat it like if you go to a restaurant and have a wine sommelier come and talk you through your pairings. We want to do the same with cannabis to take that stigma away," Lowell Cafe general manger Lily Estanislas said.

The new spot will open daily at 10 a.m.  

So-called budtenders -- flower hosts at Lowell's -- will act like waitstaff to help customers figure out which strain of weed is best for them. The select few who were hired beat out about 800 applicants. 

Food and drink will not be infused with marijuana, the cafe stresses.

But it is the first place where a customer can openly light up a joint that was just freshly rolled by a flower host. 

The cafe will offer an indoor seating area with exposed brick walls and plenty of plants, while the outdoor patio is closed off with high wooden walls and a state of the art filtration system to keep the smoke from bothering neighbors.

"It’s designed really beautifully - it’s not someone’s shady looking basement, like some cafes in Amsterdam," said customer Kat Phillips, who got a sneak peek Monday. "I think it’s designed really well."

The Rules
Under the cafe’s license, they have to stop serving cannabis by 10 p.m., and it has to be consumed on the premises.

No one under 21 is allowed. There will be 24-hour security, and customers can bring their own weed and pay a $20 "tokage fee" to smoke it there, much like a corkage fee at a restaurant.

"I think it’s a good opportunity to teach people about misconceptions and what this experience is all about," customer Heather Birdwell said. 

No tobacco can be smoked at the cafe and outside vape pens are also prohibited, amid growing concerns over safety.

"A lot of weed culture has been associated with hippie culture and I think it's interesting to see it move beyond that. So we’re excited something like this opened up," customer Ivan Feign said.

Doors open at 10 a.m. Tuesday and a large line is expected.

One student suffered a minor injury when a school bus hit a pole in Hartland, bringing wires down onto the bus.

Route 20 is closed in the area of West Street while crews from Eversource work to repair the damage.

Litchfield County Dispatch said the crash happened at 6:37 a.m.

The driver and a student were on the bus and the student’s injury is possibly a split lip, according to first responders at the scene.

Route 20 is closed in the area of West Street.

The Diocese of Bridgeport is releasing a report detailing their findings after an investigation into sex abuse accountability.

An independent sexual abuse accountability investigation was initiated last fall by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport. It was led by retired Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert L. Holzberg, according to the Diocese.

A report detailing the findings of the investigation is expected to be released at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Hard copies of the report will be available at the press conference as well as online at the Bridgeport Diocese's website.

After the key findings are announced, there will be a question and answer session with retired Judge Holzberg and the Bishop.

The press conference is set to begin at 11 a.m.

Police have arrested a man who is accused of stealing money from a collection box at a church in Naugatuck last month.

Officers were called to St. Francis of Assisi Church on Church Street shortly before 9 a.m. on September 23 after getting a report of money stolen from a collection box.

According to police, a witness said that a man, later identified as 56-year-old David Christian Lavigne, was prying open the collection box and was taking money from it.

Officers found Lavigne at the scene and he was positively identified by the witness as the person who was seen stealing money from the collection box, authorities said. He is accused of taking less than $500.

Investigators said they later determined that Lavigne has taken an unknown amount of money from the collection box on multiple other occasions.

Lavigne was arrested and released on a $500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

A teenager is being called a hero after he was killed while saving his sister during a robbery inside their Florida home.

Officials with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office say 15-year-old Khyler Edman was killed when he was protecting his 5-year-old sister during a break-in at their Port Charlotte home last Thursday, according to NBC affiliate WPTV-TV.

Sheriff Bill Prummell told media outlets that the man, identified as Ryan Cole, broke into the home and got into an encounter with the teenager before leaving the scene. Officials say they found Khyler’s bedroom door forced open. His sister was not hurt in the incident.

Cole later broke into another home in the area and was identified before being captured after a short police chase, according to Prummell, and was hospitalized with several stab wounds but is expected to be okay.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with funeral costs and a fundraiser has been set up for this Saturday to help out.

"We request that the community and media continue to give the family privacy as they grieve," the sheriff's office said on its blog.

Police are responding to a report of a bear sighting in Cheshire and they are asking residents to be cautious as officers look for the bear.

The report was in the area of Payne Drive, near Wolf Hill Road.

Police are urging residents to be cautious while walking, running and particularly at school bus stops.

Bridgeport Police are investigating after a man’s body was found in water in area of the Bridgeport Harbor Power Plant Monday morning. 

The medical examiner is working to determine the cause of the man’s death. 

Police have not determined who the man is, but said he appeared to be in his 30s or 40s.

After a taste of fall, we’re expecting a big warm up to begin today before a cool down arrives later this week.

A few light scattered showers this morning will clear out and will leave us with mainly cloudy skies during the day with a few breaks of sunshine.

Tomorrow brings much warmer temperatures and a greater chance for rain.

We'll briefly be back in the mid to low 80s tomorrow before temperatures crash on Thursday.

A 20 degree temperature drop will leave us in the 50s for high temperatures on Thursday.

The work week ends with temperatures near 60 on Friday.

Get the latest forecast anytime here.

Big changes for Connecticut start today.

The prepared food tax goes into effect - a law that increases the sales tax and use tax rate on certain prepared foods and beverages to 7.35 percent.

Minimum wage increases to $11 an hour - part of a plan to bring it up to $15 an hour in 2023.

There is also a new digital streaming tax. Those who subscribe to digital services like Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, or Hulu, will pay a 6.35 percent sales tax on each.

Starting Tuesday, if you’re in the market for a new car, when you trade in your old one you’ll pay $100 at the dealer to the General Fund.

Another law of note - if you want to buy tobacco like cigarettes or vaping products, the legal age will be 21.

The American Lung Association applauded the new law. It said in a statement in part it will, “prevent and reduce tobacco use, address the youth vaping epidemic and save lives.”

In addition to raising the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products, other laws include gun safety laws.

A 16-year-old boy was shot in New Haven Sunday night and police said his injuries are not life-threatening. 

The teen was shot once just before 9 p.m. in the area of Congress Avenue between Redfield and West streets. 

Police said he was transported by private vehicle to Yale New Haven Hospital. 

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304. 

Police said New Haven Police School Resource Officers work with the Board of Education, principal and guidance counselors to offer services to students at the school the victim attends.

Whole Foods Market stores in several states, including Connecticut, as well as several other New England states, New York and New Jersey, are recalling Dorset cheese because of potential contamination of Listeria.

A notice on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration website said Whole Foods Market stores in the Northeast and North Atlantic regions are voluntarily recalling Dorset cheese in response to a recall from Consider Bardwell Farm because of a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product was sold at Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

The FDA said the affected product was cut and wrapped in plastic with a Whole Foods Market scale label, identifiable by PLU code 97776 with sell-by dates through 10/30/2019.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Symptoms of Listeria

Listeria monocytogenesis an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals might suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and fetal infection among pregnant women. 

What to Do If You Bought Cheese Being Recalled from Whole Foods

Customers who bought the product at Whole Foods Market can bring a valid receipt into stores for a full refund.

Consumers with additional questions can call 1-844-936-8255.