When: March 10 / March 12 2025
Where: The Ranch Texas
10700 S IH 35 Dilley, TX 78017
Vehicle surveillance is designed to follow a suspect vehicle without being detected, while trailing through major cities or rural areas. This course is designed to teach the art of following another person while essentially hiding in plain sight. Instructors also have extensive experience in electronic surveillance of suspect vehicles which will be discussed during this course. Sometimes a suspect leaves his vehicle behind but must still be followed by someone who can blend with any environment they are confronted with. Surveillance is the first step to completing a successful Vehicle Containment Technique ( VCT).
Vehicle Containment Technique (VCT) is designed to take down violent criminals, and to prevent vehicle pursuits. VCT should be utilized for high-value targets. Students will learn how to use the element of surprise and properly timed violence of action to take down violent felony suspects. The Vehicle Containment Technique is designed to physically restrict the movement of the suspect vehicle by simultaneously striking it from multiple sides, thereby preventing a vehicle pursuit. As a result, this tactic will also reduce the risk to the public.
The instructors teaching this course have conducted approximately 60 VCTs on violent suspects in the Houston area. We have also conducted surveillance on over 1,000 suspects in different areas of Houston giving us the unique ability to hide in plain sight. They are experts who have trained for hundreds of hours on these tactics to perfect their outcomes. The instructors were involved with the surveillance of a Serial Murder suspect who was using a rifle to shoot ATM guards at approx. 100 yards. This suspect killed multiple Houstonians and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars. This operation lasted approx. 4 months. with 7 days a week sometimes 24-hour surveillance and the suspect never detected our team surveilling him. This case was known throughout the country and a book has been written about this case among others that instructors were involved in.
What You Will Learn:
- Effective surveillance techniques for “hiding in plain sight”
- History of the Vehicle Containment Technique (VCT)
- Proper timing and movement for vehicle containment
- Shooting techniques around vehicles
- Rifle and pistol manipulation
- Scenario-based training with live role players to reinforce skills and striking vehicles
Student needs:
Tactical Vest, tactical rig, rifle and pistol
Eye and ear protection
Vehicles- for Day 1 Surveillance
Rifle Ammo-150 rounds
Pistol Ammo-100 rounds
. Instructor Biographies
Blake VanPelt:
Houston Police Officer B. VanPelt has served for 15 years, including 7.5 years on patrol at North Command. With over a decade of experience as an investigator, crime analyst, and grant writer, he has also led the command center during operations focused on violent groups. A TCOLE-certified instructor for approximately five years, he teaches classes within HPD on Vehicle Containment Technique (VCT), Rolling Surveillance, Investigations, and Crime Analytics. Additionally, Officer VanPelt is an instructor for the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) and The Ranch in Dilley, Texas.
Kelly Huey:
Houston Police Officer K. Huey has dedicated 29 years to the department, beginning his career on patrol at the Southwest Patrol Division before transferring to the North Command’s night shift, where he served for approximately eight years. For the past 21 years, he has been a member of the North Tactical Division and also spent five years as a part-time member of the Houston Police SWAT team. Officer Huey is currently part of the Tactical Training Unit at the Houston Police Academy. An FBI-certified firearms instructor, he has taught various classes within HPD, including Vehicle Containment Technique (VCT), Rolling Surveillance, Close Quarters Battle (CQB), and specialized firearms training focused on vehicle operations. Additionally, he serves as an instructor for the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) and teaches at The Ranch in Dilley, Texas.