Ithaca Police: Were You Really Arrested and Does it Matter?

I get all kinds of phone calls. This guy called yesterday. He was stopped for a traffic violation, then admitted to drinking, and then was tested at roadside (field sobriety tests). This is where it gets interesting, he said the police told him he was not under arrest

BUT they handcuffed him. They told him he was not under arrest
BUT they placed him in custody. They told him he was not under arrest.
BUT they fingerprinted him. They told him he was not under arrest
AND that this was just PROCEDURE, and then they breath (chemical) tested him at the police station.
AND they gave him DWI tickets (charges) and released him.

Cuffed, Held, and Taken into Custody = ARREST

So First, was he arrested by the police for a DWI?