Epps’ release comes amid protests by people who said he had no criminal history but had been displaying uncharacteristic behavior like paranoia and anxiety.
Author Archives: Brandon Pho
As a Voice of OC reporter, Brandon Pho covered north/central Orange County, as well as broader regional issues around law enforcement, transportation, the environment, the OC Fair and Little Saigon.
He joined in 2018 as an intern, shedding light on turmoil and corruption claims in Westminster and uncovering a now-fired OC Fair executive’s suspect fundraising relationship with a nearby, private Christian college that the Fair had sponsored with public money.
Later, he published a number of investigative stories on local law enforcement agencies; detailed political jockeying around a controversial seawater desalting plant proposal in Huntington Beach; narrated a racial reckoning inside one of the county’s largest school districts; and tracked various quality of life issues across the region.
Before Voice of OC, Brandon worked as a reporter and editor at Cal State Fullerton’s independent student newspaper, the Daily Titan, and won a number of accolades for his reporting in 2018, including a 1st and 2nd place Los Angeles Press Club award and 1st place national College Media Association award.
While at Voice of OC, Brandon was a member of Report for America, a national network of local reporters committed to bolstering democracy throughout the U.S.
Posted inCountywide
Family Argues OC Criminal Case Raises Issues of Race, Mental Health Evaluation in Justice System
Epps’ family and local activists have mounted a campaign to raise awareness of the case, and held a protest outside the Fullerton courthouse where a pretrial hearing was scheduled.
Posted inNEWS
Westminster Puts City Manager Hiring on Hold After Controversy
At the beginning of the City Council’s Wednesday teleconference meeting, Westminster City Attorney Dick Jones announced staff would be pulling Thai’s city manager contract off the meeting’s agenda.
Posted inNEWS
OC Sheriff Barnes Clarifies Mask Enforcement Approach With Gov. Newsom
In a letter to Gov. Newsom, OC Sheriff Don Barnes said he might punish people for “egregious violations” of the statewide mask order.
Posted inNEWS
Santa Ana Council Increases Police Spending but Reallocates Some Money After Protests
Santa Ana City Council members in a near-unanimous vote of the majority Democrat panel approved a budget Tuesday that increases police spending by nearly $3 million.
Posted inNEWS
Westminster Could Have Its First Vietnamese American City Manager, But He Comes With Controversy
City Council members are set to vote on Chu Thai’s hiring at their weekly public meeting, scheduled for later today.
Posted inNEWS
Despite Local Differences Over Mask Order Enforcement, Gov. Newsom Expresses Confidence in OC
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes in a statement this month said deputies will continue to request voluntary compliance.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
With Community Demands Still Pending, Santa Ana Nears Final Budget Approval
Santa Ana officials are on track to give final approval to a new city budget that increases police spending by millions.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
Orange County Officials Move to Enforce Statewide Coronavirus Restrictions
OC officials are moving to enforce a statewide coronavirus masks mandate and business closures as the Fourth of July weekend draws near.
Posted inNEWS
Uncertainty Continues for OC Restaurants and Bars Reckoning with Coronavirus
Restaurant owners who suffered from a lack of sit-down dining business during the more restrictive months of the pandemic had to shutter again amid Coronavirus outbreaks and case spikes.
