UC Davis police officials said officers used pepper spray on protesters occupying the campus Friday after demonstrators had surrounded the officers.
Police said officers were trying to leave the protest area when using pepper spray.
UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza told reporters Saturday that the decision to use pepper spray was in place. "The students had surrounded the officers," he said. "They had to leave. They sought her out, but could not get out."
Videos of the event showed a police officer put down the protesters with pepper spray can as crumpled on the floor. Police had been trying to clarify the university quad tents and campers. The videos looked as officials were not in immediate danger.
UC Davis Chancellor Linda PBKatehi initially not criticize the police, but she said on Saturday that she had seen the video and revised several accounts of the scene.
"I was feeling very bad about what happened," Katehi said in a telephone interview. "There was insufficient information to demonstrate that we have to take a serious look at what happened."
In a statement on the website of the school, she did not address whether the officers had been surrounded:
"During the afternoon and due to the request to end the tents, many students decided to dismantle their tents, a decision which we are very grateful. However, a group of students and members decided to stay noncampus . The campus police then came to dismantle the camp. The events of this intervention have been videotaped and widely circulated. As indicated in several videos, police used pepper spray against students who blocked the way. The use of pepper spray, as shown in the video is scary for us all and raises many questions about how best to handle situations like this. "
Wildanger Geoffrey, a graduate student in art history, said he was spraying 'in my ears and nose. It hurts too much. You feel your whole body is in flames. "
He said police overreacted. "The police were not threatened in any way."
Two students were treated at a hospital and released, and several others were arrested, authorities said.
