What defines an arrest in legal terminology?

An arrest in legal terminology is defined by the act of taking or keeping a person in custody. This involves a law enforcement officer exercising the authority to detain an individual, often based on probable cause that the person has committed a crime. The key element of an arrest is the intention to hold the individual, which typically means that the individual cannot leave freely. This contrasts with other police actions such as issuing a ticket for a minor offense, which does not involve custody, or conducting a stop and frisk, which may or may not lead to an arrest depending on the situation. Additionally, conducting a search on a vehicle does not inherently indicate an arrest; it may occur without detaining the occupants. The critical aspect that defines an arrest is the establishment of custody, where the individual is significantly restricted in their freedom of movement.