On March 5 of this year he would have turned 27 years old, it's crazy to think about what life as I know it would be like if he was still alive... He was killed by Officer Gregory Klobokowsi of the Mequon Police Department on a Sunday Night in June of 2004.... It was fathers day.
Roo was a rebel, for sure.. With and at times without a cause... He wasn't a stranger to the Mequon PD.. He would always talk about how they were just out to get him.. And one time, in a panicked and anxious state, he kept insisting and repeating to me over and over that "the cops, they are gonna kill me
leah.. I just know it.. ive dreampt it... And noone will expect it because if i tell this to anyone else they will think i have gone crazy bananas in the head... But im scared leah, im really scared...." and he was very visibly scared and he shaking.. Tears streaming down his face As he held my hand in his SO tight that I could feel both of our heartbeats... It hurt, but I let him anyway.. I didn't know what else to do except be there right next to him, hug him, let him crush
My hand, and after a few silent moments... I said "no. You know what roo, that's a dream.. You are being a little more paranoid than you need to be. If you are so afraid and truly think and believe that this is how you will meet your demise.. Then 1. Stop doing shit that attracts the attention of those fuck head po-po's 2. Clean up your life, clear up your mind, let it take a breather for once! Geez! And 3. You are absolutely not going to die in such a way. Youare going to die peacefully in your sleep at the age of 86 after living a lifetime of laughter and happiness and love and gained experience and knowledge."
"no Leah, you Jane it wrong this time.. I'm not even gonna see the age of 21. What does it matter what I do? I might as well live it up while I'm still able to live at all! ..... I want go get a drink... Will you have a drink with me Leah? Please? It might be our last chance to do so...."
Little did I know how absolutely and eerily true his premonition of his death would be. Sure enough, at 20 years old... He was MURDERED by a cop who carelessly placed what he thought was a "spit hood" over Roo's head... You know, to protect them from all the spitting that Roo WASN'T doing. Turns out it was something nowhere near a spit hood that night. It was a bio-terror escape mask that when put over the head, a breathing apparatus MUST be attached so that one can you know, BReAThe!?! This Kind Of escape hood/mask was part of a brand new inclusion of post 9/11 equipment that each police car was and still is equipped with. One would think that it would be a given that anyone given that kin of equipment and extra power and responsibility would naturally want to know exactly whAt it is he or she may have to use someday. But nope, not this cop. He didn't attend any of the multiple mandatory classes in which he was supposed to have taken and Apparently, that was just fine and dandy as far as the Mequon PD was concerned.
So.. Roo suffocated to death, screaming and kicking that he couldn't breathe and yelling for help. The cops told him to settle sown and shut up, that they'd be at the PD soon. I have heard the audio recording from inside the squad car, I could hear my roo writhing in pain and agony and fear. He was severely asthmatic. Not being able to breathe was one of the things he feared most... And now, as 2 cops carelessly laugh and joke about how pathetic and immature he was being, this was where his life on earth ends. His soul slipped away and he was gone.
When unheard the news i was in a constant state of shock for quite some time. I was angry all the time, i was resentful towards anyone who ever had tried to get in the way of our friendship. I took to the streets and joined a small group of others
And we protested and screamed our little hearts out, right outside the Mequon Police Station. Holding up signs that said things like "with great power comes great responsibility" and "the death penalty for spitting!?!" among others. I have pictures
That I took from this, I'll dig em up and add them to this blog entry. I'll have to do that later though, I Need to unwind from all the pain and sadness that goes along with writing all that I just did out. This is one true life story that Is far from being finished. It is Just all so complex and full of twists and turns and leaps and bounds... As well as ups and downs.. And of course, the occasional falling flat on the ground - face first with your head in the dirt full of rAw teenage angst and passion and pain and... I'm gonna cry.
To be continued my friends!!
Below you will see a little collection of 5 different versions of this photo, one of
My favorite ever taken, of Matthew J. Sheridan... Goofball extraordinaire :) I call it
"Speak No Evil, Tell No Lies..."
I miss you everyday Roo. I thick about you always.. And I always will. Until the day I die and then maybe, if all this "heaven" hype and BS if you ask me turns out to be true... Well then maybe we can find ourself face to face once more... Who knows.... Boone does, really. They just think they do.
TO bE CONTinueD SoOn.....!
I promise.
Eventually I will have written a novel/book based on him and our friendship and all the complexity and tragedy and pain and Sorrow... And lots about all the laughter, the smiles.. The good times... Those are important to remember.
:( sigh..
