N.J. Assemblyman Arthur Barclay of Camden, facing assault charge, is resigning

A New Jersey state lawmaker from Camden is resigning after being arrested this month on a charge of simple assault.

Assemblyman Arthur Barclay, a Democrat and former city councilman in Camden, resigned Monday night for "health reasons," Camden County Democratic Committee Chairman Jim Beach said in a statement.

Barclay was arrested  June 7 at 7:17 p.m., accused of "simple assault domestic violence," the arresting officer wrote in his report. He was arrested in a public location in Camden, and appeared to be in his car at the time. Additional information was redacted.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin issued the following statement Monday night:  "I am appalled to learn of Assemblyman Barclay's actions. It is my understanding that he is doing the right thing and will resign from the General Assembly immediately."

A bail hearing was scheduled for June 28. A Camden County spokesman declined to provide a copy of the police incident report, saying it was an investigatory record.

Barclay, 36, was a star basketball player at Camden High School, from which he graduated in 2000. He earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Memphis and was inducted into the South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Barclay didn't respond to a message seeking comment, but he told the website New Jersey Globe:  "I don't want to talk about it.  It is what it is. It happened.  I just want to move forward."

County Committee members from the Fifth Legislative District will appoint a replacement in the next 10 days, Beach said.