Because probable cause to arrest is a complete defense to a claim of false arrest, the district court dismissed plaintiff's false arrest claim. 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.To have a claim for false arrest, you must be able to show that you were in fact arrested and that there was no probable cause. Plaintiff alleges DiLeonardo unlawfully shot and beat him while DiLeonardo was off-duty and intoxicated, and plaintiff was then falsely arrested and prosecuted. The Petitioner allegedly told the Suffolk County Police Officers that he did not commit the criminal act and that his brother, Howard Smith, Jr. This content isn't available. CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reports. The defendant filled out an incident report about the assault but did not assist in applying for the arrest warrant. Their team of former prosecutors understands how best to pursue civil lawsuits against the city for false arrest and malicious prosecution. ("Probable cause to arrest is a complete defense to an action for false arrest.