Suspected Pipe Bomb Turns Out to Be Hoax Device

A North County roadway was closed to traffic for about 90 minutes today as a bomb squad investigated an apparent hoax device in a residential neighborhood.

The suspicious cylinder -- resembling a foot-long pipe bomb, with wires protruding from it and an attachment that looked like a timer -- was discovered near La Costa Avenue and Seabreeze Court in Encinitas just before 6 a.m., according to sheriff's officials.

Deputies closed traffic lanes in the area while the explosives team investigated.

About 7:30 a.m., the personnel determined that the object was harmless and the roadway was reopened.

The device appeared to have been built to look like a pipe bomb, possibly by children as a plaything or in a deliberate attempt to create a scare in the neighborhood, sheriff's Lt. Kelly Martinez said.

—City News Service