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CHAPEL HILL -- Chapel Hill police arrested eight protesters over the weekend in connection with the Occupy movement.

They raided a group of anarchists, who say they're an offshoot of Occupy Chapel Hill, on Sunday at the former Yates Motor Company Building on West Franklin Street, a few blocks from the Occupy camp headquarters known as the Peace and Justice Plaza.

Officers say they waited until the crowd was a manageable size before the tactical team of about 20 went in. Protesters told News 14 Carolina police were out of line with the force they used.

“To come with assault rifles and shotguns and that sort of tactics were very, very over the top," Amanda Ashley said.

“It was really stupidity on the police's part. It was really them trying to show their power because they have big guns,” said John Pearson.

Chapel hill police say they acted as they did because anarchist groups' tactics often include destroying property and placing traps in buildings.

"We hear they did this in response to booby traps. Where this came from, we have no idea what fantasies created this," Ashley said.

Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt issued a statement in response to the incident, saying the town has always been in support of the Occupy movement but "they illegally held the building for more than 18 hours.

“These actions were clear violations of state law. In these instances, the town will respond in accord with the oath every elected official and law enforcement officer takes -- to uphold the laws of our state and nation."

Those eight people face misdemeanor breaking and entering charges. Seven of them will be in court Thursday, and one woman, Sonia Katchian, also faces charges of resisting a public official. She'll go before a judge on Nov. 21.

Chapel Hill police plan to tell their side of the story later Monday. Kleinschmidt says he and the city council will address the issue at their meeting Monday night.