Mr. Ding-A-Ling Threatened By Rival Ice Cream Man

A local ice cream man has been arrested for threatening Mr. Ding-a-Ling trucks that were selling ice cream on his turf.

Yep, apparently there wasn’t enough fudge in the town for both of them.

According to the SF Gate, Joshua Malatino, the owner of the Sno Cone Joe franchise, was arrested this week in Gloversville, New York for threatening Mr. Ding-a-Ling truck drivers.

Malatino reportedly shouted things like “You don’t’ have a chance!” and “This is my town!” to rival ice cream drivers. He would also trail Mr. Ding-a-Ling trucks in an effort to steal customers. Malatino would yell “free ice cream” in order to lure customers away from his rivals.

Mr. Ding-a-Ling owner Brian Collis said: “He’s always following my guys, playing his music loud, giving out free ice cream … Every year he calls up and says ‘Who do you think you are putting another truck in this town?’ ”

Malatino, and his ice cream bully accomplice, Amanda Scott, were arrested on April 19 and could face up to three months in prison for harassment and stalking.

Capt. John Sira said that this isn’t the first time that Malatino has been in trouble for protecting his ice cream turf.

Sira said: “In the past, Malatino has been warned for this type of behavior … This is a pretty open market here in Gloversville as long as you have a permit.”

This isn’t the first time that ice cream turf wars have broken out between two rivals. Last year, two ice cream man in the UK got into a physical altercation after an argument about territory.