An arrest under process of law, without probable cause, when made maliciously, shall give a right of action to the party arrested. A private person may arrest an offender where the offense is committed in such person's presence or within the person's immediate knowledge.Both Georgia law and federal law protect people from false arrest. An arrest without a warrant and lacking probable cause can be contested as wrongful. Do the police need a warrant to arrest me for a misdemeanor in Georgia? Yes, false imprisonment is a felony in Georgia. False imprisonment arising out of the arrest. Police can generally seize a cell phone at the time of an arrest without needing a search warrant. §17-4-40, a citizen who wishes for another person to be arrested must file a warrant application. This application can only result in the arrest and detention of another person, if evidence is sufficient to establish a criminal warrant to issue.