A man, who was found asleep beside a pool of blood in Malak, has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a woman in the ankle, and for another alleged domestic violence attack on the woman overnight, NT Police said.

Police director of communications Mark Wilton said emergency services responded to a “disturbance” at a Fawcett Court, Malak, home just after 1am, and police found a fresh pool of blood at the entryway.

He said initial inquiries indicated that the blood resulted from a fight between two females at the home, and he said the victim, who did not appear visibly injured at the time, left the scene and was reported heading towards nearby Tabletop Place.

Despite saying police thought the blood came from a fight between two females, Mr Wilton then said the male suspect was not located at the scene.

“A short time later, police were dispatched to a second location following a report that the man was threatening the victim. Upon arrival, officers found the victim, suffering from apparent stab wounds to her ankle,” Mr Wilton said.

Police said the 29-year-old woman was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital.

Mr Wilton said that just after 4:30am, police received a report of a blood trail at Hawkins Court, which comes off Fawcett Court.

“Officers followed the trail and located a man, identified as the offender from the earlier incidents, asleep beside a pool of blood,” Mr Wilton said.

Officers chased the man for a short time, Mr Wilton said, and he was arrested and taken to the Palmerston watch house, where he remains in police custody.

Northern domestic violence sex crimes division detectives will take over the investigation.

Three separate crime scenes having been established, across an area from outside a public housing apartment block in Gibbon Place, an adjoining grass reserve and footpath, and then crossing into Fawcett Crescent, and onto at Hawkins Court.

Police are asking witnesses, and anyone else with information, to phone them on 131 444.