Ottawa police's sexual assault unit is investigating after an incident in Ottawa's Pinecrest neighbourhood Thursday morning sent two people to the hospital.

Police said they were called to the scene on Elmira Drive and met with a woman who said a man had entered her apartment and sexually assaulted her. The victim told police she was able to free herself.

A man suffered a serious injury after an incident on Elmira Drive this morning. (Roger Dubois/CBC)

Police said they arrested a man in the area.

Paramedic spokesman J.P. Trottier confirmed two people were treated at the scene at 2155 Elmira Dr. One of them suffered a traumatic injury and was taken to hospital, he said.

Neighbour said woman was 'covered' in blood

Neighbour Sarah Kitney said she called police after a young woman from the building showed up at her door covered in blood and saying a man had broken into her home and attacked her.

Kitney said she called 911 and paramedics took the woman to hospital. Kitney also said police then broke through the apartment door of a man who also lives in the building.

She said he was also covered in blood as police led him away.

A source told CBC News a 19-year-old woman was asleep in bed when she woke up to find the man in her bedroom, holding a knife.

The woman claimed he tried to sexually assault her and that she grabbed the knife to defend herself, the source said., adding she then ran out of the room to another woman in the building for help.

The source said the man who was taken to hospital is 56 years old and he suffered stab wounds in his thigh, groin and abdomen.

Police said they are still investigating and they have yet to lay charges.