RIGHT?!? The sheriff's office actually told me, "I can't make him give you your property back." Wait... but, it's my property and you now know that he has it...
A friend described this best: asinine.
What's strange is one of the other forums I already referenced with the Webleys, one of the posters said someone from the sheriff's office indeed went out with him and got his pistol back.
Maybe if I went in person to El Reno I'd have better results?
Possibly. After all, the sheriff is an elected position. You could also try the local news station "problem solver" hotline. As for the lien and other stuff, well, it might not get your property back, but I'm an ornery sort. If a business stiffs me on something, I'll not return. If a business breaches a contract and unethically retains my property, particularly if it has sentimental value, I'm going to extract my pound of flesh so to speak, blood & all!