Malatino, who operates the Sno Cone Joe ice-cream van in Gloversville, became incensed when a Mr Ding-A-Ling van started working in the same patch.
Police say Malatino had threatened rival ice cream drivers before – but he went too far when he started harassing the Mr Ding-A-Ling driver.
“You don’t have a chance!” Malatino screamed at the Mr Ding-A-Ling driver on one of his first days in town, according to court documents. “This is my town!”
Police say Malatino and his girlfriend started trailing the rival ice-cream van around quiet city streets, blaring their jingles and trying to pry his customers away by offering free ice-cream.
They also called the Mr Ding-A-Ling headquarters and warned the owner that they controlled the ice-cream market in Gloversville.
On an earlier occasion the couple were successful in running a rival ice-cream truck out of town, but Mr Ding-A-Ling stuck to his guns: the couple have now been charged with harassment and stalking.