A Terre Haute man accused of snatching $17 out of the hands of a young lemonade stand operator faced a judge Tuesday on allegations of felony robbery.

Steve Tryon, 18, told police his friends put him up to taking the money from the 11-year-old girl, whose stand was at Deming and Center streets. The 11-year-old and a 12-year-old girl were selling lemonade there.

Tryon was arrested on allegations of robbery, a class-C felony, and false informing, a class-B misdemeanor.

Tryon allegedly approached the lemonade stand Monday afternoon and offered to sell the two girls a knife. The girls told police they said they didn’t want to buy a knife.

Tryon left, and returned a little bit later. The 11-year-old told police she had put all the money — about $17.50 — in a plastic cup the first time Tryon came to the stand, and she was holding it against her stomach.

She told police that when Tryon returned a second time, he demanded the money from her. He then allegedly grabbed the cup from her and fled on foot.

The 12-year-old, Dominique Morefield, told police she immediately began running after the alleged robber, and saw him go into an apartment. She called police.

According to court documents, when officers arrived, two of Tryon’s friends told them that Tryon took the money, but that he said he was sorry. They told police that Tryon wanted to give the money back. The two friends also told officers that Tryon, who would not come out of the apartment for about 45 minutes, was only 16.