In New York, a private person or a police officer commits the tort of false imprisonment or false arrest when they detain someone without legal authority. False arrest occurs when someone makes an arrest, and the facts of the "crime" don't fit the elements in the statute.In that case, one individual holds another against their will or takes them into custody without consent or legal authority to do so. What Is Unlawful Arrest Or Detainment? Making a false arrest is a type of police misconduct. Police who engage in misconduct should be held accountable. Similarly, "false arrest" is when someone arrests another individual without the legal authority to do so. Similarly, "false arrest" is when someone arrests another individual without the legal authority to do so. As an experienced false arrest attorney in New York can explain, a false arrest claim is a claim against the government. The defendant filled out an incident report about the assault but did not assist in applying for the arrest warrant.