CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- University of Virginia President Jim Ryan, along with UVA Police Chief Tim Longo and other administrators, held a town hall Tuesday to address questions on how a small, peaceful protest on Grounds turned violent.

“I don't think two dozen students with simply tents presented any threat to the university. I didn't feel fear. I didn't feel that Friday night, either. Which is why I was very direct about standing down law enforcement resources. But when I went to that site Saturday morning, I gotta tell you, I expected a different interaction. I was, I was in fear,” Longo said.

They decided to break up the protest, which erupted over the situation in Gaza, with police after protesters made an umbrella wall and yelled “fighting words” on Saturday morning.

“So, part of what we were thinking with the students was they were going to engage in civil disobedience and when the university police showed up that they would voluntarily get arrested. That's what we thought would happen, and it didn't,” Ryan said.

The scene was quiet Friday night, but by noon Saturday, social media had brought hundreds of people to the encampment. Officials say that upped the fear factor, and their response.

"Four men dressed in black, carrying large backpacks and dressed in helmets, entered and remained in the encampment. At least two of these were known to law personnel as participating in violent acts across the Commonwealth," Ryan said.

UVA clarified that 27 people were arrested for trespassing: 12 students, four employees, three former students or employees, and eight with no connection whatsoever.

The fourth-years arrested are allowed to finish out the year. Their no-trespass directive will kick in after final exercises and last through the fall.

Those unaffiliated with UVA cannot come on Grounds for four years.

Town hall participants wanted to know where Ryan was on Saturday. He said he was in a command center.

"Given the stance of the group, my view was that my presence would inflame the situation rather than de-escalate it. It's also the case that if I'm there, police have to be paying attention to me rather than the situation at hand," he said.