Display draws attention of Secret Service

COEUR d'ALENE - Wayne McKay is letting his opinion of the president be known in his front yard - and raising some eyebrows and gaining the attention of the U.S. Secret Service as a result.

The Coeur d'Alene man has a skeleton hanging with a noose with a sign stating, "I committed treason" hanging from his neck in his front yard on Pennsylvania Avenue. Below the skeleton is a headstone with "RIP Obama" on it.

It's not your average Halloween display.

McKay cites the attack on the U.S. Consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11 as a reason behind the display. U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. nationals were killed during the attack.

"It's not racist; it's freedom of speech," McKay said of his display. "People should have a penalty for treason. Period.

"I'm concerned for America, and it won't be here much longer without change."

McKay said he has had his display out for about two weeks and plans to take it down today, Election Day. He said he hasn't had any complaints from neighbors about it.

But others raised concerns and have notified the U.S. Secret Service.

One woman, who declined to have her name published out of fear of retaliation, said she was "extremely disturbed" over the display.

"I was struck with the utterlack of disrespect this yard display shows for the president of the United States," she said. "To me, the office of the president, whether he or she is either a Democrat or Republican, demands a certain amount of respect from the citizens of this country. This went beyond the bounds of anything I have ever seen in my life."

Kevin Miller of the U.S. Secret Service in Spokane said his agency is aware of the display and it's being investigated. He declined to comment further.

Christie Wood of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department said no local laws are being broken, but the display was being referred to the Secret Service.

"It is beyond a yard sign," she wrote in an email.

In previous cases with controversial displays on private property, most have fallen under freedom of speech and nothing can be done other than authorities asking the homeowner to voluntarily take down the display because it can be perceived as being in poor taste.

However, agencies still believe such cases need to be taken seriously and investigated, particularly if there could be a threat to the subject.

McKay said Monday afternoon that he heard the Secret Service is expected to come knocking, but he doesn't plan to take the display down until today.

"If I get harassed, I'll keep it up longer," he said.