A potentially deadly Portuguese man-of-war washed up on the Jersey Shore over the weekend, and officials are warning beachgoers to keep their distance if they encounter any others.

The vibrant purple and blue sea creature was found Sunday morning at Harvey Cedars Beach, according to the beach patrol officers’ Facebook page.

Officials say the northeast wind brings warm water from the Gulf Stream to shore, and along with it, seaweed and sea animals.

Portuguese man-of-wars have tentacles that grow from 10 to 30 feet long and marine biologists say their potentially deadly sting is far worse than what you’d get from jellyfish normally found at the Jersey Shore.

Stings from man-of-wars can cause abdominal pain, changes in pulse, chest pain, collapse, headache, muscle pain and spasms, numbness and weakness, pain in the arms or legs, a raised red spot on the skin, runny nose and watery eyes, difficulty swallowing and sweating.

“Their stings are among the most painful and if somebody is allergic to bee stings or something like that, you can go into shock,” Dr. Paul Bologna, associate professor of biology at Montclair State University said.

Beachgoer Emily Merchant says she was stung by a Portuguese man-of-war as a child in Hawaii. The creatures are commonly found in tropical waters but the Gulf Stream and certain wind patterns can send them our way.

“It was horrible. I thought I got electrocuted,” Merchant said.

Experts say this likely wasn’t an isolated incident and that it’s highly probable that more of these jellyfish will show up on local beaches in the next week or so.

“You never want to turn your back on the ocean. It’s always constantly changing,” Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol Captain Randy Townsend said.

Someone stole an American flag that has been flying on the American Legion Post 45 in Meriden and police are investigating.

The Waterbury Republican-American reports that the American flag was stolen on Sunday morning and the American Legion Post commander noticed on Monday morning that it was missing.
 

A man with dozens of prior arrests wounded a 31-year-old tourist with a machete in an apparently unprovoked attack in a midtown Manhattan park Tuesday, authorities and law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell NBC 4 New York.

The man sneaked up behind the woman as she was leaving the park around 11:30 a.m. and hit her in the arm with the machete, leaving two deep wounds, law enforcement sources said. Police witnessed the altercation and took the man into custody; they recovered the machete, the sources said.

The woman was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center and is expected to survive, authorities said. She was conscious and alert when she was taken to the hospital.

Police arrested 43-year-old Frederick Young on an assault charge. Young has at least 30 prior arrests, including several for drugs, and was arrested in 2010 for menacing with a machete, law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell NBC 4 New York.

Amateur video taken at the scene shows several officers restraining a man on steps at a corner of the park. Another man can be seen holding what appears to be a machete, while several bystanders aid an injured woman with a tourniquet fashioned from a belt.

Some of the hundreds of people in the park at the time of the slashing described a hectic scene.

Kyle Newberry described the aftermath of the slashing as "pandemonium."

"Next thing I knew guy on the ground guns drawn all around him got him pinned to the ground his machete is on the left side," he said.

The park quickly returned to its normal bustle.

It's not the first time the popular midtown park has been the site of violence.

A November 2013 shooting at its ice rink injured two people, including a 14-year-old, and sent skaters stampeding to safety.

Police said the gunman was a 16-year-old who had tried to rob one of the victims of his coat. The suspect, now 18, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. 

Police are looking for the burglar who struck at a Wallingford convenience store early Tuesday morning and injured the owner who tried to stop him.

The burglary turned robbery happened at C –Store, at 44 Center Street in Wallingford and was reported at 5:18 a.m. on Tuesday.

Police said the man went in through the front door and the store owner confronted him inside, then it turned into a violent fight that spilled out onto the sidewalk.

The burglar was able to break free and run before police arrived.

The store owner suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Police are still trying to determine whether anything was stolen and they ask anyone with information or who saw suspicious activity in the area to call the Wallingford Police Department at (203) 294-2845 or (203) 294-2805.

A California man sought in the slayings of his infant son and the child's mother surrendered Tuesday after authorities found him in an Orange County park pond following a brief pursuit.

The mother and her infant child died Monday after being assaulted inside an apartment in the 2600 block of West Ball Road in Anaheim Monday at around noon. Investigators found Kwane Carpenter's car in the parking lot of the Fountain Valley Hospital at around 3:30 a.m. after a tip-off from a security guard, and following an exchange of shots he fled in his vehicle, a spokesman for the Anaheim Police Department said.

"He woke up, started the vehicle immediately and drove off through the parking lot," said Sgt. Tony Luce, of the Fountain Valley Police Department. "He struck several vehicles in the parking lot and, at one point, drove the vehicle in the direction of one of our officers."

He then drove into a park at the corner of Edinger Avenue and Euclid Street and jumped into a pond in an apparent attempt to escape, police said. Carpenter was later tracked down by K-9 officers and taken into custody soon after he surrendered in neck-deep water, police said.

"The dog then jumped into the lake and grabbed ahold," said Luce.

Carpenter was identified by police as a person of interest in the killings. Carpenter remained hospitalized early Tuesday afternoon.

Investigators said the mother of his child, who has not been identified but was in her 20s, was dead when they arrived at the apartment Monday. Her 6-month-old son was taken to the hospital, where he died.

A coroner's report is pending.

Kyle Elsbernd said he tried to comfort a woman who arrived at the apartments and told him she lived in the unit and was the victim’s sister.

"When they brought the baby out, she recognized the baby and she freaked out," Elsbernd said. "It was heart-wrenching," Elsbernd said.

Shortly after, witnesses say the baby’s grandmother arrived at the scene.

Police previously said they were looking for 24-year-old Carpenter as a person of interest in the deaths.

"We are looking for a person of interest that we think could shed some light on this incident," said Lt. Eric Trapp of the Anaheim Police Department.

Annette Arreola contributed to this report.

A Florida man accused of shooting his neighbor during a dispute over dog poop was ordered held without bond Tuesday.

Omar Rodriguez, 66, of Miami-Dade, appeared before a judge Tuesday as he faces a first-degree attempted murder charge in the shooting of Jose Rey.

A clerical error by the lead detective in the case had Rodriguez initially charged with second-degree attempted murder.

According to police, Rey was walking his dog home Saturday night in his Kendall neighborhood when Rodriguez said Rey's dog was attempting to defecate in Rodriguez's son's yard.

Neighbors told police that the two men began arguing loudly and Rodriguez told police that Rey threatened to return and fight him. Rodriguez told police that after he spotted what appeared to be a shiny object in Rey's hand, he went to his car and retrieved a gun from his glove compartment.

Rodriguez opened fire, shooting Rey. Rey, a father of two, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Rey's family released a statement Tuesday to give an update on his status.

"On behalf of the Entire Rey Family we would like to thank you for your continued support and prayers at this time. Since this heinous shooting Pepe has under gone multiple surgeries and we are waiting a final one at any time between today and tomorrow," the statement said. "Every minute that goes by is a blessing and one step forward to his road to recovery."

At court Tuesday, Rodriguez's attorney, Alan Ross, said it was a justifiable use of force.

"Despite how this case has been characterized and portrayed, over the weekend in the press, on TV, again here in court this morning, we're confident that once all the facts are known and once all the circumstances surface that a different picture is going to be painted and that the community will then understand that there was a justifiable use of force and a well founded fear that supported the conduct of the defendant in this case," Ross said.

Ross argued that the charge should be second-degree attempted murder, which would allow Rodriguez to be released on bond. He also claimed the arrest affidavit showed Rey was the aggressor.

"It indicates that Mr. Rey was looking for a fight. 'I'm going to take my dog home, I'm going to come back, I'm going to do all of those things,'" Ross said.

Rey's daughter, Becky Rey, said that would be out of character.

"He's known and loved by a lot of people," she said. "You can't hear one bad thing about my dad."

A Richmond police officer shot one of the department's K-9 officers on Tuesday morning after the dog bit him, authorities said.

Sgt. Nicole Abetkov said the act was in self-defense.

She said the dog, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, bit the officer just before 7 a.m. in the parking lot of the Richmond Police Department. The K-9’s handler left his car with the dog still in it to go inside the station for a meeting, police said. The dog somehow got out of the car and bit another police officer in civilian clothes.

The officer who was attacked, a four-year veteran of the department, fired his handgun once, according to police.

The officer was taken to the hospital after suffering unknown injures. The dog suffered critical injuries and was taken to a PETS Referral Center in Berkeley, Abetkov said. The dog has since been transferred to a UC Davis veterinary hospital and is now in a stable condition, authorities said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the dog to bite the officer. Authorities said the dog had never had a problem before.

Police investigators said they plan to scrutinize the system of extra locks and remote controls packed into each K-9 patrol cars.

“Everything will be checked out with a fine-toothed comb,” Abetkov said.

Richmond police has a 54-year history of using police dogs – more than half of that time with the Belgian Malinois breed. The dogs were initially recruited to search Richmond’s numerous warehouses. Officers use them now mostly for tracking felony suspects and searching for evidence and narcotics.

NBC Bay Area's Chuck Coppola contributed to this report.

Residents at a northwest Florida nursing home have a rather young — and unusual — roommate.

Shelly is a 20-year-old African Spur Thigh Tortoise and has served as a therapy animal at Chautauqua Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for the past two years, NBC affiliate WJHG reported.

"They will come and befriend Shelly and come out and greet Shelly every day and make it part of their routine,” said Brandy Meredith, an employee at the center and Shelly's caretaker.

The therapy tortoise has helped patients at the 42-bed facility cope with their injuries and disabilities. Some patients stay there temporarily as they recover from knee and hip replacements, but others remain permanently. They appreciate having Shelly there all the more.

Long-term patient Winnie Ruthbrookshire planted a garden in the center's courtyard where Shelly lives that's filled with his favorite foods.

“We’re just blessed to have something like that and to be able to see it [Shelly] and be one of our friends,” Ruthbrookshire told WJHG.

Police arrested two Hartford men after searching their home and finding two guns and drugs.

Ricky Hurt, 32, is facing multiple weapons charges and Tyrell Kelley, 26, are facing narcotics charges.

Police searched 67 Oakland Terrace in Hartford after obtaining a warrant in an investigation into two men suspected of storing illegal guns there and dealing drugs out of the residence, police said.

Hartford police found a firearm, marijuana, crack cocaine and packaging material inside the house, police said. They learned drugs and guns were also being stored in vehicles behind the home, so they did a search in that area. They found another gun and marijuana outside the home, according to police. 

Officers seized a black M-1911 auto loading pistol of .45 caliber with an "obliterated serial number," a Black Star SA 9-millimeter firearm, 11 grams of cocaine and three ounces of marijuana, police said.

Police charged Hurt with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle and interfering with police. Kelley faces charges of possession of narcotics with the intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of the school and possession of narcotics.

City of Berkeley inspectors found that the balcony that collapsed a week ago killing six students and injuring seven others during a 21st birthday party had badly rotted beams.

Inspectors found that the deck joist ends protruding from the exterior wall had been rotted by water damage.

Berkeley's Building and Safety division made the initial observations in a summary report issued Tuesday. Five of the six students who died were from Ireland, the sixth was an Irish-American who lived in Rohnert Park. Six of the seven students who were injured remain hospitalized. Twenty-one-year-old Sean Fahey from Dublin was released from the hospital and is expected to travel home to Ireland, the Irish Times reported. Fahey was treated at the Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Based on their observations, city staff recommended that the Berkeley City Council adopt new and modified regulations to enhance the safety of all current and future buildings in Berkeley.

The recommended changes would make new balconies and other sealed areas that are exposed to weather subject to stricter requirements on materials, inspection and ventilation. The proposed rules would also require regular maintenance inspections for all such spaces for future and existing buildings.

"I'm going to propose, similar to San Francisco, owners get a structural engineer to inspect the buildings every five years," Eric Angstadt, director of Berkeley's Planning and Development Department, said at a press conference Tuesday.

Library Gardens, the site of the accident, is a 5-story, 176-unit apartment building located at 2020 Kittredge Street in downtown Berkeley which received its certificate of occupancy from the City of Berkeley in 2007. Building and Safety Division staff confirmed through their investigation that the building's approved plans complied with California Building code requirements in effect at that time. Staff said that all state building code-mandated inspections were also conducted.

City officials deemed another balcony in the same building structurally unsafe in the wake of the accident. The Library Gardens Apartment has been contoversial from its beginnings, as long documented in the Berkeley Daily Planet. In a 2006 article, the newspaper wrote about the debate about whether to turn the property into apartments or condos, and because the new construction demanded the demolition of one of the city's most popular parking lots.

Berkeley police have said that they are not going to launch a criminal investigation into the accident.

Sean Fahey, student injured in #BerkeleyBalcony acc., out of hospital; will return to Ireland http://t.co/hDVDdbJ9JA pic.twitter.com/Hw1fqEhO7i

— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) June 23, 2015

A woman is facing charges from three separate burglary arrests in Glastonbury.

Brittany Lamarr, 23, of Cromwell, turned herself into police Monday on warrants for multiple burglary and larceny charges for each case.

Police say she forced entry into three homes while they were vacant during the day. Three of the houses burglarized were in the same area, including two on Chestnut Hill Road and another on Hopewell Road. The burglaries happened between Sept. 26, 2014 and Oct. 16, 2014 in South Glastonbury.

The burglaries were discovered after the fact. She stole jewelry, electronics, a shotgun and a handgun, according to police.

Phone records from Portland, Rocky Hill and Farmington led police to identify her as a suspect, police said. She has pending cases in all three of those towns, mainly on charges including larceny and burglary, according to the state judicial website.

Police haven't recovered any of the stolen items.

Police charged Lamarr with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit those crimes, third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trespass in one of the cases, third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit those crimes, firearm theft, third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trespass in the second case and third degree burglary, third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit those crimes, third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal trespass and theft of a credit card in the third case.

There is no word on why the homes were targeted and police said it seems like the locations were picked at random.

Lamarr was scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Tuesday.

Police in Shelby, North Carolina on Tuesday released video of the arrest of Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old man accused of gunning down nine people at Bible study in a historic South Carolina church last week.

In the video, recorded by a police dash cam, four officers approach Roof's black Hyundai, some with guns drawn. They then frisk Roof and handcuff him without incident.

Roof was spotted in Shelby, about 250 miles from Charleston, by a florist on her way to work. Debbie Dills spotted the black car around 10:20 a.m. on Thursday and called a friend, who then notified police.

Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder in the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal, which investigators called a racial hate crime.

Four former flight attendants based in California are suing Boeing, claiming that they were injured after inhaling toxic fumes on a Boston-to-San Diego flight two years ago.

Darlene Ramirez of San Diego and Karen Neben of Lemon Grove filed the lawsuit with fellow plaintiffs Vanessa Woods of Newport Beach and Faye Oskardottir of Rancho Santa Margarita. The four women were hospitalized after a July 12, 2013, flight aboard a Boeing 737-890.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial on allegations of defective design, lack of proper warnings, negligence and fraud, claiming the plane was filled with toxic fumes as a result of a failed ozone converter.

The Alaska Airlines flight attendants say they noticed a “burnt oil” or “dirty sock” smell when they boarded the airplane.

"I got on that flight, I was healthy and I got off the flight and I have never been the same since,” Woods told NBC News.

After takeoff, Oskardottir was the first to become ill. She fainted and vomited, the suit claims.

Ramirez gave her colleague oxygen and soon had to do the same for Neben and Woods, according to the suit.

"The next thing I knew was on the galley floor, and the other flight attendant was on the PA system just mumbling incoherently," Woods said.

Neben told NBC 7 that the captain had her check the bins to see if there was something making them sick inside. However, her search came up with nothing.

"The vent on the ceiling was facing right in my face and really burnt oily smell came right in my face," Neben described. Not long after, she too passed out.

Several passengers helped treat the flight attendants while the captain diverted the plane to Chicago.

Emergency personnel boarded the plane and told the crew their symptoms may be due to poor air quality in the cabin, the lawsuit claims.

Complaints of headaches, dizziness and difficulty speaking are symptoms of “hydrocarbon exposure,” the lawsuit alleges, which can result in long-term effects ranging from blurred vision and decreased motor skills to trouble concentrating and memory loss.

Three of the four flight attendants claim to have suffered injuries that prevent them from returning to work, NBC News reported. 

Their injuries vary from tremors and shortness of breath to a metallic taste in their mouths and problems sleeping, according to the court documents.

Boeing, the world’s largest aircraft builder, has been sued before and settled, NBC News reported.

The company declined to comment on the lawsuit but in the past has studied the issue and found: "Cabin air is safe to breathe. Research has consistently shown that cabin air meets health and safety standards and that contaminant levels are generally low."

Contaminated “bleed air” as it’s known in the airline industry was recently identified as the cause for 15 passengers who were sickened on a January 2010 flight that landed in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"The bleed air system is -- it's like Russian roulette," Neben told NBC 7. "You know, the chances are you're not going to get a fume event to you, to happen to you. But you just never know. And if it does happen, your life can change dramatically."

Those treated complained of smelling a foul, “dirty sock” type of smell.

Plaintiffs' attorneys list more than two dozen reports or studies of fumes or sickness by flight attendants including several that suggest the construction of cabin pressurization systems can allow jet oil to leak into the cabin air.

The plaintiffs cite a 2008 paper that claims to have documented “470 reports of air supply contamination over an 18-month period,” which the researchers estimated was one every day in the U.S.

However, the FAA's data on contaminated air incidents is lacking.

The Association of Flight Attendants, the largest flight attendant union, estimates hundreds, perhaps thousands, of crew members and passengers have been affected over the years.

“They may not realize that they’re sick or that it was caused from this contaminated air,” Sarah Nelson told NBC News.

In 2012, Congress voted the FAA should research aircraft engine/APU bleed air cleaning and monitoring technology.

A year later, the FAA issued a report suggesting there was technology being tested that could help monitor the quality of cabin air while stating “the occurrence of oil or hydraulic based contamination of bleed air is extremely low.”

A vehicle struck a state police cruiser on Route 8 south in Seymour on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The collision happened near exit 21 at about 12:36 p.m.

Medical personnel responded to the scene, but there is no word on injuries to the driver or the trooper in the state police car.

The Department of Transportation diverted traffic off the highway.

Sports, television and Hollywood celebrities will be at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell Wednesday to compete in the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am.

Actor and comedian George Lopez, most known for his talk show "Lopez Tonight," five-time Emmy Award-winning TODAY show host Matt Lauer, former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, professional skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, NFL Hall of Famer and former New England Patriots player Andre Tippett, former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, who played for the Chicago Bears, the Patriots, the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers, ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, known for "Sunday NFL Countdown, NBA All-Star Ray Allen, who won NBA titles on the Boston Celtics in 2008 and the Miami Heat in 2013, singer-songwriter/guitarist and winner NBC's "The Voice" Javier Colon, a University of Hartford graduate, New England Patriots placekicker Stephen Gostkowski and NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace are some of the celebrities who will be competing.

Major players in UConn's sports scene will be participating as well, including UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma, former UConn men's coach Jim Calhoun, men's ice hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh, Athletic Director Warde Manuel and UConn women's basketball associate coach Chris Dailey.

"We're thrilled to have such diverse talent in this group of celebrities, along with several prominent members of the UConn athletic department, all of whom are volunteering their time to help raise funds and awareness for the tournament charities by playing in the Pro-Am," said Andy Bessette, Travelers Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. "This event is always a fan favorite, as they get to see celebrities and PGA TOUR pros team up for a great cause."

The Travelers Championship, the first event in the PGA Tour season for the Northeast, runs June 22 through 28. Tickets are available for purchase online on the Travelers Championship website. All the proceeds benefit various charities.

Click here to see the full list of teams for the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am and the tee times.

A man arrested on drunken driving charges in Middletown told police he was a state lottery employee and offered the police officer winning lottery numbers to drop the charges, police said.

Police approached Robert K. Eldridge Jr. 41, of Cromwell, on Union Street, near DeKoven Drive, just after 3 p.m. on June 14 when he was stopped at a green light and said he appeared to be passed out behind the steering wheel.

Officials from Connecticut Lottery said Eldridge is not a lottery employee and has never been.

When Eldridge came to, he tried to start the car, but noticed police officers, according to police.

His eyes were bloodshot and glossy and his speech was slurred when he responded to the police officer’s question about how much he’d had to drink, police said.

He responded that he’d had “a couple drinks,” beers,” and a couple shots of “fireball,” according to the arraignment report.

At the scene, he also kept telling police he was going to lose his job at the lottery, according to police.

After a failed field sobriety test, police handcuffed Eldridge and transported him to the police station for testing and to arrest him.

While at the police station, Eldridge kept asking if there was any way to work things out and whether he could just call someone for a ride, police said. Then he offered the police officer winning lottery numbers to resolve the charges, according to the arraignment report.

Breath tests revealed Eldridge’s blood alcohol level was .1638, then .1642, according to police.
He was charged with operating under the influence and possession of narcotics, released on $5,000 bond and is due in court on June 29. 

Police are trying to identify a man who inappropriately touched a 13-year-old boy as he was fishing at the Supply Pond on North Chestnut Street in Branford.

Police said the incident happened on Sunday, June 14, around 4 p.m. and police are they are looking for a man who is between 35 and 50 years old and between 5-feet-6 and 6-feet tall.

The man is heavy and has brown eyes, red hair and freckles on his face, forehead and arms.

He was wearing a black T-shirt with white writing and gray shorts.

The man was last seen walking into the woods on the nature trail.

Anyone with information should call police at 203-481-4241.

North Haven police said they believe a microburst or small tornado struck the west side of North Haven near the Hartford Turnpike corridor on Tuesday.

Trees and power lines are down and several homes have been severely damaged due to the weather, according to police.

They expect extended power outages as the United Illuminating Co. works to safely restore service.

United Illuminating is reporting 363 power outages in North Haven.

Police said the will continue with high-visibility patrols in affected area.

While it might be tempting to explore the affected neighborhoods, police are asking that residents remain home for their safety and the safety of emergency crews.
 

Route 15 northbound Stamford due to an overturned car, according to state police.

Police said the northbound lanes are shut down between exits 35 and 36.

It's not clear how long the highway will remain closed or if anyone was hurt.

No additional information was immediately available.

The First Selectman of Ridgefield has declared a state of emergency because of significant damage from the storms after powerful storms knocked power out across the state and brought down trees and wires.

Ridgefield officials Tweeted that downed trees and wires are blocking many roads.

Power is out for 49 percent of Ridgefield, according to the latest power outage report from Eversource. That is affecting 5,226 customers.

Eversource crews are in town and more have been called in.

Once the front passes the humidity drops on Tuesday night, Wednesday features sunny, warm and dry weather. There will likely be partial sun Thursday through the following Monday with a chance of rain.

If you spot severe weather, send photos to shareit@nbcconnecticut.com.

Parks & Recreation at 195 Danbury Road is open regular hours for showers and charging devices until 10 p.m. tonight and will reopen at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.