Probationary constable Oliver Reinhardt denies drink driving, gun charges after arrest at Freemans Waterhole

The 39-year-old allegedly returned a reading of 0.218 and was later charged with handling a gun while intoxicated. He has pleaded not guilty.

An off-duty police officer arrested after being found standing outside his car parked in the middle of a Lake Macquarie road has denied he was drink driving or handling guns while intoxicated.

West Gosford probationary constable Oliver Reinhardt entered not guilty pleas to three charges when his matter was briefly mentioned in Toronto Local Court on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old, who had been stationed on the Central Coast, was charged with high-range drink driving after he was arrested on Palmers Road at Freemans Waterhole about 11.30pm on November 25.

Police allege Reinhardt’s Volkswagen Amarok was parked in the middle of Palmers Road and he was standing outside the vehicle.

He later allegedly returned a prescribed concentration of alcohol reading of 0.218 – more than four times the legal limit.

On January 12, Reinhardt was charged with not keeping a firearm safely and handing or using a firearm under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Police allege Reinhardt had handled the gun on the same day he was arrested for drink driving.

Reinhardt, who was not required to attend Toronto Local Court on Tuesday, entered the not guilty pleas to all three charges through his legal representative.

He will reappear in Toronto Local Court on March 22.