He’s lucky he didn’t get his bell rung by a ding-a-ling. Looks like he’ll be facing a rocky road for permits for running his truck in the future.
Via Times Union:
The Mr. Ding-A-Ling truck hadn’t been rolling through the streets here for more than a week before Joshua Malatino made his message clear: There ain’t enough Fudgsicles in this city for the both of us.
Malatino, who owns the homegrown Sno Cone Joe franchise, had threatened rival ice cream trucks before, but police said he went too far earlier this month. It began with threats and taunts.
“You don’t have a chance!” Malatino yelled to the 53-year-old Mr. Ding-a-Ling driver on one of his first days in Gloversville, according to court documents. “This is my town!”
Soon, police said, Malatino, 34, and his girlfriend, Amanda Scott, 21, were shadowing the rival driver across quiet city streets, blaring their jingles and trying to pry his customers away.
“Free ice cream!” they would yell to any parent or child sauntering toward the Mr. Ding-A-Ling truck, police said.
Police said Malatino and Scott’s quixotic quest to run roughshod over their competition hit a roadblock Tuesday: Officers charged the operators with harassment, a violation, and misdemeanor stalking.