Police are investigating whether a truck driver accused of rape and kidnapping in Bellingham may have struck elsewhere on his route.

Eduardo A. Medina, 40, was arrested after a woman alerted a Walmart employee in Bellingham of the attack.

"This is an opportunity for other departments to take a look at this and maybe match up some missing links," said Mark Young with the Bellingham Police Department.

KIRO 7 North Sound reporter Lee Stoll showed Medina's photo to another truck driver in the area who recognized Medina. The other driver asked not to be identified, but said other truck drivers watch out for each other -- and for their reputations.

"Yeah, he looks familiar," the other driver said. "There's still some of us out there that will help people that are in need and turn people in that aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing."

http://bcove.me/jn5l1byv

The 25-year-old victim told officers that the rape occurred while she was waiting for her boyfriend in the parking lot of PetSmart at 4379 Meridian Street. Police said the attacker, a long haul truck driver, was also in the parking lot delivering merchandise. Police said the man offered to let the woman use his phone, then grabbed the victim and pushed her to the ground.

The victim said she felt compelled to get into the truck because she was scared of the man. The woman told officers that once she was in the cab of the truck, the man raped her. 

"He had already thrown her to the ground and I think she felt had she not complied ... worse things were in store for her," Young said.

The woman said she managed to escape when she convinced the man she needed to use a phone. The man brought her into the Walmart at 4420 Meridian Street sometime after midnight. The victim got the attention of the employee and discretely shared that she had been raped and needed help getting away from her attacker, police said. The store employee was able to create an opportunity for the victim to come to the office alone to use the phone.  The employee then called 911.

Officers arrested Medina, at the Walmart.  He was booked into the Whatcom County Jail.