On September 19, 2025, a fan dispute at an Alleghany High School football game in Covington, Virginia, escalated into a physical confrontation.
Alleghany County Sheriff Kyle Moore, in plain clothes, cornered Richard “Ricky” Jordan on a narrow landing above the bleachers.
Witnesses say Moore nearly pushed Jordan over the banister. The crowd begged him to stop.
Jordan ended up arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and public intoxication. However, a breathalyzer test showed that he was under the legal limit.
Now, videos are viral, a recall petition is brewing, and the community is split.
Jordan, a regular at games cheering for his son on the Alleghany team, calls it a misunderstanding gone wrong. Moore defends it as upholding the law.
As details emerge from witnesses and officials, questions linger about identification, force, and bias.
It started in the student section during the Mountaineers’ game. Jordan stood on the landing, hyping the crowd like he always does.
He tossed energy into the stands, urging fans to cheer. Melisha Mundy, another spectator, got upset. She yelled at him for blocking her view.
Jordan ducked down twice, asking if she could see. When she continued to complain, he told her to get up and cheer. Then he walked away on his own.
Mundy complained to nearby deputies. She later said she never meant for Jordan to get mistreated. Jordan and his family agree it’s not her fault.
But Sheriff Moore stepped in. Dressed in jeans and a jacket, he approached with a deputy. They cornered Jordan on that small landing near the banister.
Videos show Moore grabbing Jordan by the arm and neck. Jordan twisted away in panic, yelling, “Get that man off me!” He says Moore never identified himself as a law enforcement officer.
Uniformed deputies didn’t tell him to stop resisting. The struggle drew more officers, a total of six or eight.
They dragged Jordan down the stairs and out of the stadium. Covington Police made the formal arrest outside.
Jordan told reporters he pulled away because he didn’t understand why he had to leave. He admitted to drinking but passed the breathalyzer.
He claims no Miranda rights were read. Moore says Jordan was in a heated exchange with an “elderly” woman, appeared drunk, and used profane language when asked to go.
One witness shared a message:
Witnesses have Spoken Out About Calls of Excessive Force
Social media exploded with accounts. Crystal Clyburn posted on Facebook, compiling videos and screenshots. She accused Moore of instigating the incident.
She shared a post from The Alleghany Journal showing Moore himself hyping the crowd earlier, tossing items into the stands.
She wrote-:
“Sheriff Kyle Moore thought it was completely acceptable for HIM to hype up the crowd, and even toss things into the stands. Jordan, however, was deemed a threat and forcibly removed,”
Via Facebook
Beth Woodson filmed a clip of Moore grabbing Jordan by the neck. She posted-:
“The behavior I (and half of Covington) witnessed by the Alleghany Sheriff tonight was disgusting. He immediately chose to escalate a situation by grabbing a man by the neck at the football game. Be sure to watch the videos that will be posted to Facebook, I’m sure there will be many. And I hope people remember this quick temper come election time. What I witnessed was unnecessary, especially in front of all of these kids…. Moore should apologize to the AHS students. Leaving the game pretty sad. (This clip is just the beginning before about 6 or 8 cops piled on, be sure to check out Virginian Review’s livestream for the rest),”
Via Facebook
Woodson added perspective:
“Our sheriff wasn’t in uniform, and Ricky had no idea who he was until he asked at the jail who he was. Thus the ‘get that man off me’ and the resistance. This situation needs to be investigated.”
Via Facebook
She highlighted Virginia law § 19.2-83.4, banning neck restraints unless needed to prevent death or serious injury. It defines them as pressure on the neck affecting movement, blood flow, or breathing.
Amber Nicely, Jordan’s son’s mother, said Jordan posed no threat. “He was violently not only pushed backwards over an edge and dragged down the steps, but he was grabbed by his throat to do so,” she told WFXR.
Deloris Quarles, a relative, worried about rough tactics. “From my understanding, he wasn’t aware it was the sheriff. They shouldn’t have been using those rough de-escalating tactics because he could’ve lost his life,” she said. Janet Curry, with legal experience, supported Jordan at the courthouse.
Flanked by deputies, he said Jordan harassed an elderly woman and resisted commands. He identified himself and used only “hand control.”
No one was injured, and no non-lethal tools, such as pepper spray, were used. Miranda rights weren’t needed since Jordan wasn’t questioned.
Moore noted that Jordan was banned from school events due to prior behavior at an away game. Jordan says he didn’t know.
He denied choking Jordan or having any bias. He added
“Let me be clear — at no time did I choke Mr. Jordan. My wife was not involved in this incident. Neither race nor personal bias played any role in my actions,”
Via Facebook
The Virginia State Police are investigating, reviewing body camera footage, and taking statements. Sheriff Kyle Moore, at press conference-:
“In this case, the escalation was entirely the result of Mr. Jordan’s decision not to comply with lawful commands.”
Via Facebook
Outrage grows. Clyburn warned Moore: “This isn’t going away, Moore. The deeper you dig in your heels, the harder it will be to get out of the hole you’re putting yourself in.“
Woodson is filing a recall petition this week. She needs 10% of the voters from Moore’s last election, about 1,000 signatures, for a court review.
Her post gained over 60 shares in a short time. “I hope I can count on some of you for support. This needs to be brought to trial,” she wrote.
Ben Woodson questioned the handling:
“The question that needs to be asked is if the arresting officer was the female officer from the city, then why did the sheriffs office even need to hold a press conference. Wasn’t their case… and why exactly was the Covington officer the arresting officer if Dudding and Moore were handling the situation. Furthermore, if Mr Jordan was banned as they said, why was he let in the game and why did they wait until the 3rd quarter to try to remove him. More holes in this story than a slice of Swiss cheese. Guess that’s why they didn’t take questions today.”
Via Facebook
Supporters rallied for Jordan on Monday outside the courthouse. He appeared in Alleghany General District Court that morning, but details are pending.
A full hearing is set for November. Jordan plans to fight the charges and sue Moore.
As the Virginia State Police probe, this banister football arrest incident highlights tensions over policing at public events.
