Originally Posted by
4444
i see the term false imprisonment thrown all over these forums. it is not false imprisonment to keep people for a reasonable period of time to investigate a potential problem. a half hour is hardly a substantial period of "imprisonment". i agree the police should have been called as soon as possible to deal with the idea a child might be missing but to call the police to claim false imprisonment is just silly. i myself would have calmly walked out the door telling management they would be free to take my plate number if they thought it necessary.
A private party can't hold you without placing you under citizens arrest (which would place the business lined up for potential lawsuit) - except in the state of NC where a private person can detain you if they suspect you of a felony.
This very much meets the exact definition of false imprisonment.