A California lawmaker who was arrested on suspicion of child cruelty says the allegation stemmed from spanking his seven-year-old daughter.

Democratic Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula said he spanked his daughter on Sunday night because she was acting up.

Arambula said he believed his daughter went to school angry the following morning and told a teacher about what had happened.

He was arrested on Monday after officials at Dailey Elementary Charter School noticed an injury on the child and reported it to authorities.

Democratic Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, who was arrested on suspicion of child cruelty, said he spanked his seven-year-old daughter (far left with her mother) on Sunday night because she was acting up

The girl told authorities that her dad had caused the injury.

Both Joaquin and his wife Elizabeth were interviewed by police and he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of willful injury to a child.

Arambula is a former emergency room doctor who was elected in 2016 to represents parts of Fresno County.

Joaquin Arambula was arrested on Monday after officials at Dailey Elementary Charter School noticed an injury on the child and reported it to authorities

He has three daughters, ages 3, 6 and 7, with his wife Elizabeth.

All three of their daughters were taken away by Child Protective Services for two days and stayed with his parents.

They were allowed to return to the family home on Wednesday.

Arambula said spanking was a punishment he rarely used but told abc30 his daughter had been 'acting up'.

'We have nights where we get overwhelmed and feel like we have work that we need to do with our kids. That night, was a night where she was acting out,' Arambula said.

'It's what parents have to be able to do, to have some ground rules to be good parents.'

His wife Elizabeth said: 'She was angry, she was really angry that he spanked her. She woke up angry, and she went to school angry, and wanted to be heard.'

Arambula said he has no plans to resign.

'Everyone who knows us in the community and has seen us in the community knows that I'm a loving father,' Arambula told the Fresno Bee.

Both Joaquin and his wife Elizabeth were interviewed by police and he was arrested on misdemeanor charges of willful injury to a child

Arambula The Arambula's say that child abuse charges came because their daughter was angry that she was spanked Sunday night. In an interview with Liz Harrison ABC30 Action News, they share what they learned from the experience. Full story: https://abc30.com/arambula-explains-what-led-to-child-abuse-charge/4887623/ Posted by ABC30 Action News on Wednesday, 12 December 2018

'I care about my daughters deeply and I'm just going through a process and trying the best I can to be a husband and father who's putting us back together again.'

He added that he wanted his daughter to know 'that she's loved and that her dad cares for her tremendously, that we both do, and that she has a wonderful place with us.'

He thanked the school, child protective services and police for doing their jobs.

Arambula was released shortly after his arrest and has not been formally charged.

'There's a process to be played out, and this process played out, and they determined that the kids should go back home,' Arambula said.

'I'm excited about that. But we have a job and a responsibility to continue to be good parents, and that's what I want to work on and will strive to do.'

Authorities will check in on the Arambulas in 30 days and suggested the family seek therapy, he said.

Arambula's arrest was for a misdemeanor not a felony because the injury did not require medical attention. Spanking a child is generally legal if it's in a fleshy area such as the buttocks but not if it's in a place likely to cause injury like the face.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon hasn't commented on the arrest.