NATCHEZ &045; A Natchez Police Department detention officer injured by an inmate in March is still on medical leave for her injuries, and jail officials are enforcing new rules.

Officer Glenda Washington was allegedly punched in the face by inmate Leroy Fleming on March 10 when she entered the cell to deliver meals.

Fleming, 22, 93 Aldrich St., was serving a 10-day sentence for a bench warrant for contempt of court on a malicious mischief charge. In addition to 10 days in jail, Fleming was fined $319.

Washington suffered a fracture of her eye socket and was taken to Natchez Regional Hospital where she was treated and released, Police Chief Mike Mullins said.

&uot;This was a group of misdemeanors (offenders),&uot; Mullins said. &uot;It is very rare to have anything like that happen.

&uot;She had a walkie-talkie and was able to recover and get the door closed and call for help.&uot;

Fleming was charged with simple assault on an officer with a $15,000 bond and attempted felony escape with a $20,000 bond.

Mullins said investigations showed Fleming was intending to escape from the jail, but Mullins said he would not have been able to exit the building without a code or a key.

The jail has surveillance cameras in the hallways that are used to monitor any activity, and two jailers are always in the building at a time.

&uot;It’s a dangerous job dealing with inmates,&uot; Mullins said. &uot;But they do it daily, day in and day out.&uot;

Because of the incident, Mullins said stricter rules would apply to the misdemeanor cells as well.

&uot;We are not going to open cell doors unless we have two officers present,&uot; Mullins said.

Some cell doors in the jail have a slot for a dinner tray, but the cell Fleming was in did not.

The cell also contained other inmates, who yelled at Fleming to stop when he attacked Washington, Mullins said.

On March 20, two jailers at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office were held hostage by armed robbery inmate Kendell Shorts. Shorts allegedly sharpened two toothbrushes into knives. Neither officer was hurt and backup was called, but the ACSO also tightened security after the incident.