1. One who takes another person into legal custody: Arresters, as police can be, have the duty to apprehend those who have broken the law, and they can be thieves, robbers, raiders, muggers, swindlers, etc.
2. A device that slows down and stops motion, especially one with wires for slowing aircraft while landing: The cables for the arrester on the runway could be seen when leaving the plane after arrival.