A DRUNK man chose the wrong moment to heckle a police officer while cradling a beer on the street.

A crowd of reporters and camera operators had gathered outside Albury police station in regional NSW about 10.30am on Monday for a press conference that didn’t go entirely to plan.

Shortly after Detective Inspector Winston Woodward had begun his speech, a dishevelled passer-by with a stubbie in hand crossed the street, yelling “bulls**t” towards the officer and media.

Mr Woodward excused himself from the attentive press pack, instructing the man to put the glass bottle down.

Local news cameras captured footage of the man pouring the content of his bottle into a nearby rubbish bin, but still he refused to co-operate.

Detective Inspector Woodward had had enough, and grabbed the man by the collar before marching him into the police station telling the shocked offender he was under arrest for swearing in public.

He was issued with a $500 fine.

After the incident, the diligent senior officer returned to coolly complete the media briefing.