To be fair to police. It is like searching for a needle in a haystack. especially f this person is a drifter with no family or internet connection. I hope people are checking there property and abandoned buildings. He might be hiding out there. If he was in a car he would have to get gas.
I'm speaking more about the switch from "police do not believe foul play is involved and have been given no information that would lead them to believe the girls are in any immediate danger" to "oops, we suspect foul play" and "I don’t want to discourage anyone from using the system; it’s there for a purpose and for recreation." to "yeah, there may be a murderous hitchhiker thumbing rides".
Then there's the whole warrant search which, according to them, was a complete waste of time that they don't have.