Man gains access to Corio police station claiming to be CIA

A man has allegedly slipped tight security at a major Geelong police station claiming to be a US special agent, a court has heard.

The Corio police station on Bacchus Marsh Rd. Picture: Mark Wilson

A man has allegedly infiltrated tight security at a Geelong police station claiming to be a CIA agent, a court has heard.

Lee Steven Griffiths appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with a string of serious offences including ramming a police car with officers inside.

The court heard Mr Griffiths gained access to the Corio police headquarters earlier this year through a rear gate, then followed a cleaner inside the building through a door that required a swipe key to access.

He was intercepted in a corridor and challenged by a police officer, the court heard.

When asked what he was doing, Mr Griffiths claimed he worked for the US-based Central Intelligence Agency and was there to speak to his children, who he said worked at the station.

The court heard earlier on that same day, on March 7, he was seen loitering around the entry gates of the station.

He later returned and is alleged to have “cracked” a door, causing more than $1000 in damage.

The court also heard he allegedly “rammed” a police car and a gate in a separate incident, resulting in one officer suffering severe neck pain.

The incident caused more than $29,000 in damage, according to the court.

Mr Griffiths’ counsel told the court her client suffered from schizophrenia and was off his medication at the time of the alleged offending, alleged to have occurred between November 2024 and March 2025.

Lee Griffiths is charged with a number of offences, including ramming a police car and gaining access to the Corio police station.

She said he had told her “he was fried” and was delusional, also believing someone was trying to murder him, and was “psychotic towards police.”

He also believed he had “implants in his head” and heard voices that “tell him what to do”, the court heard.

Mr Griffiths, who appeared via video link from the Ravenhall Prison, is also accused of removing a temporary fence at a Corio school on March 25 and trespassing.

He was found hiding behind a bin, at 4.26 am, before running from police, telling them he “only popped in” because he thought someone was in danger.

His counsel told the court he had been “dumpster diving” and looking for things that could be sold.

Mr Griffiths, who has spent 97 days behind bars on remand, is also facing breach of bail, multiple unlicensed driving and driving under the influence of methamphetamine charges.

Police prosecution told the court his offending was “extremely serious” and he had a history of drink driving offences, and had not shown a willingness to comply with his medication or stop taking illicit drugs and alcohol.

“Protection of the community needs to be taken into account,” she said.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie adjourned the matter so he could be assessed for a Community Corrections Order before sentencing.

Originally published as Man gains access to Corio police station claiming to be CIA