A man brandishing a knife argues with police outside the house in Frankston. Credit:Michael Dodge Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said the police action had saved the woman's life. "We intervened and we saved her life," Mr Hill said. "Our members last night had no choice. "I am very, very confident we saved that lady's life as a consequence of our intervention."

Neighbours watch police during the siege in Frankston on Tuesday morning. Credit:Penny Stephens. The stand-off with police started on Monday afternoon when, acting on a tip, detectives spotted a car used by the suspect parked outside the Dandenong East Road home. They went inside, but retreated following an altercation and called-in extra resources. A man holds a knife in the doorway of the Frankston home. Credit:Michael Dodge Mr Doherty lives in a nondescript block of units in Seaford just under a kilometre away from the scene of the siege.

His neighbours have told of erratic behaviour and a descent into addiction following the death of his mother. An ambulance leaving the scene of a siege in Frankston after what's believed to be gun shots were heard. Credit:Penny Stephens Mr Hill said there were four other people inside for the duration of the stand-off — a man who lived in the home and three women, who were all known to Mr Doherty. When police entered the house they discovered a second woman inside had been slashed to the hand and punched to the face "In the early part of the evening, people were free to leave if they chose to. They didn't make that choice. That's a choice that I'm sure they'll regret," Mr Hill said.

Mr Doherty, also known as "Snowy", had allegedly been armed with a knife and coming down from the drug ice during the stand-off, which had included demands that police bring him beer and ice. The first stabbing on Monday began at Mr Doherty's unit on the corner of Boonong Avenue and Wells Road. The same victim was attacked again at his home in Carder Avenue, about 500 metres away. Police and paramedics were called to the Carder Avenue home about 10am.

The homicide squad are investigating the case. Stephanie Onoforio, who lives near Mr Doherty, said he was erratic and would often bang on their door at all hours asking for cigarettes and alcohol. "I'd see him walk up and down the complex, sometimes he'd be talking to himself," she said. Another neighbour said Mr Doherty's life had taken a "depressive slide" after the death of his mother in 2010. She said he had once dreamed of becoming an actor, but his addiction to ice had taken hold.

Mr Hill said people needed to appreciate that "this ugly drug ice can have a significant impact on an individual's wellbeing". "This person was acting so irrationally, so irrationally, I say as a consequence of him using and being addicted to that drug," he said. The 37-year-old woman who had been stabbed to her thigh was taken to Frankston Hospital in a stable condition. The woman who was slashed to the hand, a 32-year-old, was also taken to the local hospital. The two others, a 44-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, were being questioned by police in Frankston on Tuesday.

A review of the incident will be conducted by internal investigators from the professional standards command. During the seige Mr Doherty had allegedly threatened the lives of the four people in the house. "There's a guarantee you'll get three dead bodies," he was heard shouting, according to News Corp. "Get the f---ing shard [ice] or I swear they all go. Go get your guns ... Let's rock and roll."

The man told police earlier in the night that he needed time "to do some thinking" and that he would get tired without drugs. "If I f---ing want to, I'll carve the whole lot of them up and then I'll attack you," he said. "I actually will f---ing go on with it."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. With Marissa Calligeros