Mark Hardy, Kings’ assistant coach, is arrested and awaiting hearing in Washington, D.C.

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Mark Hardy, a former Kings player and currently an assistant coach, was arrested early Friday in Washington D.C., and charged with misdemeanor sex abuse.

Hardy was scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior court late Friday. It is possible he could be charged with a felony.

“We are aware of the charge. Due to the legal nature of this matter we will not have any additional comments at this time,” the Kings said in a statement.

Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Eric Frost said by phone Friday that the department has in custody “somebody by that name but we don’t know who he is. To us he’s another sexual abuse misdemeanor defendant in the lockup. If he’s a celebrity, it doesn’t matter to us.”

Frost said the department cannot release the identity of those who are arrested for privacy reasons. He said the suspect will go before a judge Friday in a show-cause hearing.

Hardy played for the Kings from 1979-88 and again from 1992-94 and has twice served as an assistant coach. He also played for the New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars, and was an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports.

-- Helene Elliot