A false arrest is one way of committing false imprisonment. False imprisonment occurs when one person unlawfully restricts another's freedom of movement.There is no difference between false arrest and false imprisonment in California's civil law. False arrest requires an arrest, but, false imprisonment only requires unlawful detention. The fraud or deceit must be intentional. Meanwhile, false imprisonment or illegal detention is a broad term for unlawful detention. The only distinction lies in the manner in which they arise. False arrest is merely one means of committing a false imprisonment. False imprisonment laws prohibit anyone from detaining, restraining, or confining another person against the person's will. 1947). "Under California law, 'false arrest is not a different tort' but 'is merely one way of committing a false imprisonment.