The West Hollywood homeowner who decorated his house with effigies of Republicans Sarah Palin and John McCain first angered some of his neighbors, who reported hate crime to local officials, and now has the attention of the Secret Service.

Chad Michael Morrisette did some brainstorming for this year’s Halloween decorations and came up with the idea of hanging a mannequin resembling Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin by a noose from his house’s eaves. Another mannequin bearing close resemblance to Republican presidential candidate John McCain protrudes from the chimney, surrounded by “flames.”

Some of Morrisette’s neighbors contacted the West Hollywood station of the Sheriff’s Department, reporting the scene as a hate crime. Local officials have said that while the decorations may be disturbing to some residents, Morrisette is covered by his free speech right.

Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said the effigies do not “rise” to the level of hate crime. Officials also said Morrisette’s home would be watched so that things do not get out of hand.

Morrisette told local KCAL-TV that he did not expect this kind of attention for what he considers to be Halloween “art” and commented that a similar scene of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama would have caused even more unrest among his neighbors, perhaps inciting them to throw objects though his windows.

While there have been no reports of projectiles, Morrisette’s case has come to the attention of the Secret Service, with agents visiting his home to assess the situation. Deputy Special Agent in Charge Wayne Williams told the Associated Press Tuesday that the display is not being treated as threat by the Service yet.

West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang urged Morrisette to remove the mannequins, remarking that he had the right to make the display but that he could find “more constructive ways” to express his opinions, which would not reference violence.