One of Detroit's Most Wanted Arrested

DETROIT (myFOXDetroit.com) -- A police tip leads to the arrest of one of Detroit's most wanted. We partnered with Crime Stoppers to bring you his picture. Now, he's off the streets and behind bars.

"He went after vulnerable people... Actually went after people that he didn't think would give him a hard time," said Detroit Police Commander Steve Dolunt.

Instead of pursuing college or a career such as many people his age, police say Gene Santo Polk choose life in the fast lane. They say he carjacked and robbed enough people at gunpoint to find a spot on Detroit's most wanted list.

One of his victim's is still too scared to let us identify him.

"I was targeted with a shotgun close range at 2:30 in the morning. I mean, this guy was pretty scary, man. I could have lost my life and I have five kids," the victim said.

However, police say Polk wasn't just a twenty-something rogue. He had accomplices, some younger than him helping pull off jobs at Reno and Eight Mile, Kelly and Seven Mile and other locations across the east side. The crimes date back to last September.

"He started kids that were 15 years old working for him. So, by the time they're his age, they've been doing stuff for ten years, unfortunately," Dolunt said.

Now, fast forward to Polk's booking photo at the Wayne County Jail. He's facing at least twelve counts of armed robbery. Police say his luck ran out last Thursday when officers got a good tip that panned out.

"Someone from the Mobile Strike Force got a tip from a concerned citizen. They made the location and locked him up with no problems," said Dolunt.

Polk faces more than 20 years in prison.

For Detroiters, there's perhaps no better way to sum up what this arrest means than this, "I sleep a little better at night now," said the aforementioned victim.