Capt. Johnson: "I believe we're headed for peace" in Ferguson

Last week, the governor put State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson in charge of keeping the peace in Ferguson.

Today, CBS News asked Johnson what has changed since taking over.

"I think that the partnership between law enforcement and the leadership of this community continue to come together to not allow the agitators and that criminal element to define the protests," Johnson told CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers. "I think what you saw last night, the evils that brought themselves into this process were not able to hide."

The violence has been subsiding in Ferguson after 11 tense days of demonstrations over the shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer on Aug. 9. Arrests were down to just seven last night.

Gov. Jay Nixon Thursday ordered the national guard to begin withdrawing from Ferguson, three days after sending them in to help deal with the violence that followed the shooting.

Johnson feels that a visit from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday contributed to calming tensions among protesters.

"I thanked him for coming here, focusing attention on what's occurring here and I think it had a great impact on yesterday," said Johnson.

Johnson, asked what his fears were, said he has none.

"I believe we're headed toward peace."