Rapid City, SD (AHN) -- A South Dakota motel clerk turned away a would-be robber who demanded money, armed only with a butter knife.

The front desk clerk at the Howard Johnson Express told police a man pointed a butter knife at her and asked for money about 6 p.m. Sunday. After she refused, the dejected robber left the hotel, the Rapid City Journal reported.

After receiving a detailed description of the suspect from the clerk, police searched the area, finding a man who matched the description outside an apartment near the hotel.

Police arrested Robert Lee McKinney, 34, after they recovered a knife they believe was used in the attempted robbery, the Journal reported.

Police charged McKinney, of Rapid City, with first-degree robbery. He is being held at the Pennington County Jail.

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