SAN DIEGO: The FBI is asking for the public's help in identifying who planted a fake bomb that led to the evacuation of University of California San Diego medical school buildings at the La Jolla campus Wednesday.

Authorities made public yesterday a letter left by the Animal Liberation Front, an animal rights group that claimed responsibility for planting the fake bomb. Authorities also released a recording of a bomb threat phoned to the university.

“We are asking the public to look at the font, word usage and misspelled words that could help identify the author,” Special Agent Darrell Foxworth said. “Listen to the words used, the pace of speech and background noise to identify . . . who made the phone call.”

The first call, received Tuesday night, threatened the university's animal research program.

On Wednesday morning, a letter was delivered to UCSD, along with two telephone calls that claimed the group would detonate explosive devices at campus research buildings.

About 10:30 a.m., a UCSD employee found a suspicious package in the Leichtag Family Foundation Biomedical Research Building that authorities later determined was a fake device made to look like a bomb.

Medical school buildings were evacuated but reopened that evening.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Joint Terrorism Task Force at (858) 565-1255 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS (8477). –J.L.J.

Nonchalant robber takes about $700 from bank

SAN DIEGO: A robber picked on a Bank of America branch inside Albertson's supermarket on Balboa Avenue in Kearny Mesa last night.

The man walked in about 6:50 p.m. and handed a demand note to the lone teller. He was given about $700 and left “casually,” San Diego police said.

The robber was black, in his 30s, 6 feet 3 inches tall and 220 pounds, with a muscular build. He wore a blue shirt and blue pants, a red and black beanie and latex gloves. –P.R.

Man, 25, denied bail after being charged in murder

CHULA VISTA: San Diego police homicide detectives have arrested a suspect in connection with the death of a man whose body was found Oct. 25 in a San Ysidro motel.

Daniel Garcia, 25, was taken into custody Wednesday on Zenith Street near Third Avenue in Chula Vista. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail and held without bail on one charge of first-degree murder.

Garcia was identified after detectives released surveillance photos of two men wanted for questioning in the slaying of Lee Woodard, 57, whose body was found by an employee of the Economy Inn on Via de San Ysidro.

Detectives are searching for Garcia's companion, Jorge Naranjo, 23, a parolee who frequents south San Diego. Woodard's black 1999 Volkswagen Passat, California license plate 4DYZ009, is missing.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call San Diego police or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS. –J.Z.

Pedestrian dies after walking in front of train

SAN DIEGO: An unidentified man was struck by an Amtrak train and killed last night in Midtown in what sheriff's officials said was an apparent suicide.

A Medical Examiner's Office investigator said the man's identity was not known.

Witnesses told authorities the man, possibly in his 50s, was walking east on Laurel Street, on the north sidewalk. He started across the tracks at Pacific Highway after the gates came down and alarm bells started ringing to announce a northbound train.

The train struck the man and stopped a little farther north, at Palm Street. The accident occurred about 6 p.m. The man was declared dead minutes later.

All trains through the city were halted until about 7:45 p.m., with passengers moved around the scene by trolley. An investigation concluded about 8:20 p.m., sheriff's officials said. –P.R.

Former teacher admits having sex with student

EAST COUNTY COURTS: A former Helix High School music teacher and band director admitted in court yesterday that she had sex with a 17-year-old student.

Jessica Ashley Kahal, 22, pleaded guilty in El Cajon Superior Court to a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor at least three years younger, Deputy District Attorney Renee Palermo said.

Kahal faces up to a year in jail at a Feb. 13 sentencing hearing set by Judge Patricia K. Cookson, Palermo said. The judge allowed Kahal to remain free on $20,000 bail.

Kahal's relationship with the boy was reported to police by her roommate. Kahal had been teaching at the charter school since August. She resigned Oct. 5. –R.H.

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Staff writers Jose Luis Jiménez, Pauline Repard, Janine Zúńiga and Ray Huard contributed to this report.