ERIE — Federal agents including Homeland Security Investigations searched a million-dollar Erie home of a successful Rally America race car driver on Thursday, authorities said.
Tingwu Song, who has placed first in six Rally America races across the U.S., said he has no idea why authorities were at his home.
No one has been arrested, said Carl Rusnok, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.
“I can’t get into what may have been seized,” Rusnok said. “All I can tell you is that agents from Homeland Security Investigations have taken a lead role in the investigation. Since this is an ongoing investigation, no further information is releasable at this time.”
Neighbors said bomb disposal experts also went to the spacious home in Erie, which had a beehive of activity.
“This whole thing is kind of a surprise,” said neighbor Wayne Charles Muhler, 65, who buys and sells airplanes. “With bomb disposal people, and look at the date. The very sad part is this is an airpark, and it is now associated with 9/11.”
Authorities are being guarded about releasing information. No names of possible suspects have been released. The search took place in the Erie Airpark at 145 Piper Drive at about 10:15 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Erie police characterized what happened at the home as a law enforcement action.
Song was reached by The Denver Post on Thursday afternoon by phone while he is on vacation with his family. When asked where he was vacationing, he said he wasn’t sure he should say, and didn’t.
“I heard there were police at my home,” Song said. “I honestly don’t know what happened. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Song said his home is being remodeled and he thought it was possible that a construction worker may have been injured. His neighbors called him and told him about the police.
When told that the FBI and ATF were at his home, he said: “Whoa. Wow. Maybe I should get an attorney.”
The search was first disclosed through an Erie Police Department news release. Rusnok said other agents from the Diplomatic Security Service and the FBI also participated in the action. Rusnok said he could not comment further.
Neighbors know Song as “Rick,” who drives a red Ferrari. Song confirmed that his family owns a large chemical company in China that makes polyurethane resins.
Song said he is attending the University of Colorado seeking a master’s degree in business administration, Muhler said.
CU spokesman Ryan Huff said there is no one by the names of Ting Wu Song or Rick Song enrolled at the university.
“He speaks perfect English. He’s been a very pleasant neighbor. He has an airplane and a home-built gyro-copter,” Muhler said. “It’s obvious he’s had an unlimited cash supply. We talked about airplanes and race cars.”
Song, from Jilin City, China, competed in Rally Car races in China and the United States, according to Rally America.
He finished first in the New Hampshire, Maine, New England Forest and Mendocino Open rallies in 2013, according to Rally America.
The airpark has 120 lots and about 115 homes. Each home sits on 2 acres of property, Muhler said. The Songs moved into their home in January 2013, according to property records.
“The airpark is a neighborhood on a few acres around the municipal airport,” said town of Erie spokeswoman Katie Jenkins. “All homeowners are private residents. Most of them have hangar access.”
Most of the planes that fly into the airport are small private planes, she said. The airport is near Colorado 7 and about 3 miles west of Interstate 25. It has a 4,700-foot-long concrete runway that has about 35,000 takeoffs and landings a year.
Jenkins said she has been asked not to comment about the investigation and referred comment to Rusnok.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.